Saints are facing an  injury pile-up after central midfield duo Victor Wanyama and Morgan Schneiderlin were consigned to the treatment room.

Schneiderlin sat out the 1-0 FA Cup third round replay win at Ipswich after suffering an adductor injury that will rule him out for three to four weeks.

Daily Echo:

Wanyama was due to play the first 45 minutes at Portman Road before being replaced by Steven Davis but picked up a hamstring strain just seconds before the break that could keep him out of action for four to five weeks.

With Toby Alderweireld also missing for a similar time to Schneiderlin, the Saints squad is looking stretched.

After Wanyama’s injury, Koeman said: “It’s really negative because already we have some other injuries and I knew something because I already spoke before the game with Victor and with Steven Davis and made the decision both players 45 minutes.

“It was 12 seconds until half time when he got his hamstring injury and you know if it’s really a hamstring injury he will be out for four or five weeks.”

When asked if he regretted playing Wanyama he added: “No. He had some calf problems out of the game against Manchester United and he trained yesterday.

“We know we have a tough programme and we don’t have a big squad to resolve that kind of problems with the injury.

“I said each 45 minutes and maybe that’s not that risk as 90 minutes but even 45 minutes was too much.”

Of Schneiderlin he reported: “He has a little bit the same as when he came back from the French national team.

“He has an adductor problem in his right leg and he will be out for three or four weeks like Toby Alderweireld, but we have some good young players.”

The depleted Saints squad take on Newcastle at the weekend with Koeman admitting they are stretched with others missing too.

“Of course they are important players but the problem is in numbers,” he reflected.

“You speak about Toby, about Morgan, now Victor, but you have to know already we miss Mane, we miss Yoshida, we miss Mayuka.

“When we miss seven or eight players we know the squad is very small.

“We have good young lads, good under-21, and they showed in other games like Harry (Reed) tonight and Matthew Targett tonight but sometimes it is too much and we have to protect them.

“We will see what we have to do.”

With the transfer window open Saints could do something about it. Koeman is hoping he can avoid that – but admits it might have to be an option if further injuries occur.

“I don’t know. I spoke to the club,” he revealed.

“I think now we can handle but one or two injuries more we have to do something, but we will see.”

At least Koeman has Jack Cork available again, with the midfielder set to be thrust straight back into action after a month out.

“It’s not too early because Jack played last Monday 45 minutes in the under-21 game against Fulham,” insisted Koeman.

“He will miss some rhythm of games like Elia but he is in good shape, he’s fresh, and we will need Jack in the coming games that we have.”