Southampton manager provides injury update ahead of Brighton match

The Seagulls travel to St Mary's to take on the Saints on Saturday in the Premier League and will be hoping to end their run of ten games without a win.

Albion's task will be a bit more difficult as the Saints manager has confirmed that Theo Walcott and Ibrahima Diallo could be back amongst the squad.

The duo were left out of the team during their 2-2 draw with Leicester City on Wednesday night, despite training on the day.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl gives instructions to Tino Livramento from the touchline during the Premier League match between Southampton and Leicester City at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton. Picture date: Wednesday December 1, 2021.

The Austrian manager is using the full depth of his squad during the busy festive season, making sure he has his team at top fitness for matches.

When asked about the two missing Saints players and whether they were injured, Hasenhuttl said: "No. It is important that we have the players who are not playing having proper sessions for a week, to get them on the highest level.

"I do not want the gap between the players who are always playing and the players who are never playing to get too big.

"I may need those two on the weekend, so I need them to have a good week. We need to do this in the week."

Stuart Armstrong remains the only player in the physio's room at Staplewood as he continued with his calf struggles - but he has now been joined by Jan Bednarek who was forced off the field with a calf problem of his own.

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Southampton will now assess his issue before Albion's visit and an update is expected on Friday morning.

The Saints boss said: "Hopefully he [Bednarek] is okay. I hope that he stepped out just in time so that the problem did not become an injury."