Southampton manager Ivan Juric has suffered yet another devastating defensive injury blow ahead of Tuesday's encounter with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.
The Saints were condemned to a heavy 4-0 defeat at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, where long-serving defender Jan Bednarek was taken off with a muscular issue after just 12 minutes.
Juric has confirmed that the Pole's problem, but he will take his place on the sidelines with Ross Stewart (calf), Ryan Fraser (calf) and Adam Lallana (thigh) in midweek.
Jack Stephens was not risked at the weekend having only just returned to training following a concern of his own, but Juric is hopeful that Taylor Harwood-Bellis will return from a blow to the ankle.
The England international should now be swiftly recalled to the XI, potentially alongside Armel Bella-Kotchap as Joe Aribo also makes way in West London.
For the second game in a row, new signing Welington was taken off at half time on Saturday, so Yukinari Sugawara will surely return to the first XI as Kyle Walker-Peters switches flanks.
The Saints have also lost Lesley Ugochukwu for this game - the Chelsea loanee cannot play his parent club - and his absence could open the door for Albert Gronbaek to return to the starting lineup.
Flynn Downes might also bring some fresh legs to the midfield over Tyler Dibling, as Mateus Fernandes is pushed further forward, while Paul Onuachu will expect to kick Cameron Archer out of the XI to reprise his partnership with Kamaldeen Sulemana.
Southampton possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bella-Kotchap, Bree; Sugawara, Gronbaek, Downes, Walker-Peters; Fernandes; Onuachu, Sulemana
> Click here to see how Chelsea could line up for this game
Ben Knapton
