Massive injury blow for Southampton with star striker out for up to six weeks

Ralph Hasenhuttl TEAMtalk

Southampton striker Danny Ings needs surgery and could be out for up to six weeks after picking up a nasty knee injury.

Ings had a scan on his knee after being hurt in Southampton’s 4-3 Premier League win at Aston Villa on Sunday.

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said on Wednesday: “At the moment it looks like he is out for four to six weeks.

“He’ll have a small surgery tomorrow morning. It could be worse, but he’ll be out and it’s not good news for us.”

Ings was forced off in the 85th minute at Villa Park having earlier scored his fifth Premier League goal of the season.

Danny Ings

The 28-year-old was injured in a challenge from Villa substitute Trezeguet and had a scan the following day, which Southampton said had provided “favourable” results.

But the former Burnley and Liverpool forward, who has previously suffered two serious knee injuries which led to long spells on the sidelines, will now be absent as Southampton seek to build on a strong start to the season.

The Saints are fifth in the Premier League and play Newcastle, Wolves, Manchester United, Brighton, Sheffield United and Arsenal in the next six weeks.

Hasenhuttl added: “We are more than Danny Ings. It’s a big loss but it’s important now for other players to give us alternatives.

“Nobody has to play like Danny Ings, every player should play his best possible game.”


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A big loss for the Saints

The news comes as a huge blow for the south coast side who are doing well in the Premier League so far.

Ings has scored five goals in seven top-flight games already this term – just over a third of all the goals Southampton have netted in the league up to this point.

His excellent form over the past year earned him a call-up into Gareth Southgate’s England squad in October, going on to net his first international goal in the nation’s 3-0 friendly win over Wales.

Southampton will now have to rely on the likes of Shane Long and Che Adams, who have scored just two goals between them this season, to find the back of the net.