SAINTS have been suddenly plunged into a goalkeeper crisis after both of the club's two most experienced stoppers picked up injuries in the past three days.

Boss Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed on Friday that Fraser Forster, who has played second fiddle for much of this season to Alex McCarthy, suffered a problem during training the previous day.

He subsequently missed out on a place in the matchday squad for Saturday's 1-1 draw with Brighton.

And, during that stalemate with the Seagulls, the club's first choice McCarthy suffered a hamstring problem.

'He must be more professional' - Hasenhuttl slams McCarthy for not informing him of late injury

Hasenhuttl did not hold back in his criticism of the 32-year-old after the game, claiming he had not informed the bench how badly he was struggling with his injury.

Saints looked set for a precious win at St Mary's courtesy of Armando Broja's goal, only for Neal Maupay to strike in the eighth of 10 added minutes.

The goal came when Jakub Moder's free-kick into the wall was blocked. He followed it up on the volley, the ball landing at Maupay's feet deep in the box to slam home.

The Frenchman had been played onside by James Ward-Prowse, who had retreated to the goal-line to cover the free-kick, because Hasenhuttl claims McCarthy was too injured to jump across to make the save.

Should McCarthy and Forster be out for a period of time, that leaves only Harry Lewis as the club's other senior goalkeeper.

The 23-year-old was on the bench for the draw with Brighton, but has played just three competitive games for Saints - all in the FA Cup in 2017.

Since then, his only first-team football has come during a loan spell at Dundee United in the 2017-18 campaign.

"By the way, he (McCarthy) is out for maybe longer and Fraser Forster is also injured," said a frustrated Hasenhuttl when discussing McCarthy's decision to play on with a hamstring problem against Brighton.

Asked if it will cause a problem should both McCarthy and Forster face spells out and if he may look to bring in extra goalkeeper cover, Hasenhuttl added: "Yes, it will. We must have a look what is going on with Fraser.

"Otherwise we have a third one, Harry Lewis."

The Athletic this evening reported Saints are considering a move for an emergency loan goalkeeper, once the injury to McCarthy has been assessed.

Saints are next in action at Arsenal on Saturday, coincidentally the last club Lewis faced in Saints' first team, a 5-0 loss at St Mary's under Claude Puel.