Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale will miss Sunday’s game against Premier League leaders Liverpool with a finger injury.
Arsenal’s on-loan keeper withdrew from Lee Carsley’s England squad during the international break and faces “a couple of weeks” on the sidelines, according to Saints boss Russell Martin.
Defender Jan Bednarek has also been ruled out of the visit from Arne Slot’s men with a knee injury.
“They’ll both be out for this weekend and a number of weeks”, Martin said.
“Aaron has had an operation on his finger, he’ll hopefully be back this side of Christmas.
“Jan, we spoke really quickly after the game. He was really worried about his knee injury. Thankfully the injury is not as significant as we fear, hopefully a week or two before Aaron.
“They’ve been two of our best players all season. Of course it will affect the team and how it looks but others need to step in and take their opportunity.”
Alex McCarthy will deputise for the 26-year-old and Martin says he has “so much trust” in his back-up stopper to perform.
Martin relishing Liverpool clash
Southampton are bottom of the Premier League after collecting just four points from 11 games this season and visit of the league leaders looks a daunting task.
But Martin says he and his players will relish the challenge at St Mary’s, saying: “I’m really excited about Sunday.
“We’re playing the best team in the country at the moment, on their current form and what they have been doing with their manager, built on an incredible foundation from the previous manager, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Russel’s PGMOL meeting
Martin said the South Coast club met with [refereeing body] PGMOL to discuss two contentious decisions in their 2-0 defeat by Wolves before the international break.
He said he “still has issues” with Ryan Manning’s disallowed effort and a potential foul for Wolves’ second goal.
The under-fire boss added: “As a club, we had a meeting with them, with the owners involved as well, and the chief executive. I have to say, it’s not an easy job for Howard Webb, so I think he does it really, really well.
“I still have an issue with the goal for sure, and a foul on the second goal. I also have an issue with them coming out and saying it was a correct decision ultimately.
“If we are going to improve VAR and make it better, we need to have real honesty and accountability, so for it to come out as a correct decision in the match review is frustrating to me but it is objective, right, so the second goal for sure they should take longer on analysing the foul from Craig Dawson, because it is a foul.
“They let us hear all the audio and watch it, and the first goal is open to interpretation.”
‘Delight’ for Harwood-Bellis
Defender Taylor Harw0od-Bellis will return to club action fresh off scoring on his England debut in a 5-0 win over Republic of Ireland on Sunday.
“We’re all immensely proud of him at the club and really happy for him”, Martin said.
“I think the aim when he came last year in the Championship, he was disappointed in not being in the Premier League at that point, it was to get there together and give him the best chance of achieving his dream of playing international football.
“To then make his debut and score on his debut is incredible so we’re really pleased for him and his family. Hopefully it will be the first of many for Taylor.”