Highlights

  • Southampton midfielder Will Smallbone faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to an ankle injury, putting a dent in manager Russell Martin's promotion hopes.
  • Smallbone's impressive loan spell at Stoke City and Southampton's relegation to the Championship earned him a chance to shine for the Saints, but his injury has disrupted his progress.
  • The original prognosis of a few weeks has been updated to several months, indicating a more serious injury than initially feared, leaving Southampton in need of a replacement midfield option.