SAINTS youngster Jake Vokins has suffered an injury setback while at loan club Ross County.

The 21-year-old had started two Scottish League Cup ties for the Saggies and had been set to feature in their league opener at home against St Johnstone on Saturday.

But boss Malky Mackay revealed the Saints academy graduate has a stress fracture in his fifth metatarsal and was now set to go under the knife back on the south coast.

Former Watford and Cardiff boss Mackay told the Press and Journal: “We had to contend with our starting left-back Jake Vokins, in the last minute of training on Friday, who innocuously made a pass and felt something in his foot.

“It has turned out he has a stress fracture in his fifth metatarsal and will be out for 10 weeks now.”

He added: “Jake had settled in really well in the three games he played.

“He was absolutely gutted, I spoke to Southampton on Friday and he will be operated on Monday down there.

“Left-back might be the eighth one (player) we bring in now, because that’s an extra area we will have to look at again now.”

Having come through the ranks at St Mary’s, Vokins has made five senior appearances for Saints.

He also spent the second half of last season on loan at Sunderland.