RALPH Hasenhuttl confirmed Saints winger Moussa Djenepo was forced off with a groin problem at Manchester City.

The Malian, who has also suffered with a hamstring injury this season, appeared to pick up the issue in the latter stages of the first half during the 5-2 defeat at Etihad Stadium.

Djenepo was replaced by Nathan Tella at the interval as Saints fell to their 13th league defeat of the campaign.

Asked for an update on the 22-year-old post-match, Hasenhuttl said: “I don’t know. He had a little bit of a problem with his groin, I think.

“With one duel, he felt it a little bit.”

The Austrian boss made six changes to his starting XI that overcame Sheffield United 2-0 on Saturday, with Djenepo coming back into the line-up.

But Hasenhuttl was left frustrated to witness another muscle injury during a jam-packed Premier League schedule.

He added: “This is the topic for the summer – that we need to have more stability and more physical strength in the future. Then we are a good side.

“We have a good development with the ball and playing football but the physical department of the game must develop in the future.”