Southampton have been rocked by a triple injury blow which could result in Ralph Hasenhuttl fielding a weakened squad against Newcastle.
The Saints are currently in seriously impressive form and sit fifth in the Premier League table after huge victories over the likes of Everton and Aston Villa. However, the Magpies are also in good stead so far and are reaping the benefits of new signing Callum Wilson.
But three key players are likely to be absent after picking up injuries in their previous fixture. Danny Ings is set to undergo knee surgery whilst Ryan Bertrand and Jan Bednarek are suffering from thigh and head injuries respectively (via premierinjuries.com). With the ever-present left-back out of action, and with Jake Vokins also confirmed as an absentee, Hasenhuttl could call upon Kyle Walker-Peters to step in.
Walker-Peters to step up to the plate
As highlighted by Transfermarkt, the former Spurs man is confident playing in both full-back roles and has so far completely edged out Yan Valery at right back this season. He could be the difference between the result the team needs and one they would rather avoid.
Fans would certainly feel at ease seeing Walker-Peters filling in for the absent Bertrand, perhaps more so than James Ward-Prowse, who filled in there when the former Chelsea man went off with his hamstring issue at Villa Park.
The Englishman, rated at £10.8m by Transfermarkt, has received a lot of praise from fans and professionals alike after making a big impact on the team since his arrival. He was also picked out by Theo Walcott as the player to impress him the most since he joined the club with the ex-England international calling him a “grafter”, which is a huge compliment for the 23-year-old.
There has been no timeframe set on when Bertrand could be due to return. But should it be a lengthy time on the sidelines, a solid performance against Newcastle will prove to Hasenhuttl that he has a confident and reliable versatile player on his hands in Walker-Peters.
In other news, Southampton must act fast or risk losing Mohamed Elyounoussi permanently…