RALPH Hasenhuttl confirmed that injured Alex McCarthy is still not training with the group, while Nathan Tella may not yet be fit enough for Premier League action.
Goalkeeper McCarthy, 32, has not featured for Saints since the start of December – where he picked up a hamstring injury in a 1-1 draw with Brighton at St Mary’s.
Hasenhuttl criticised McCarthy for not revealing the true extent of his injury, directly contributing to Neal Maupay’s last-ditch equaliser.
He later returned to training in January, but then suffered a further setback and is now not training with the group.
“Not training with us at the moment, still takes time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tella has returned to first-team sessions but is yet to make a matchday squad for Hasenhuttl since suffering a groin concern in January.
He has missed nine consecutive matches for Saints, and Hasenhuttl implies that he is not yet ready to make a return to top-flight action.
“Fit for training, but to be fit for Premier League games, like normal, takes a little bit more,” the Austrian said.
Tella will turn 23-years-old this summer and signed a brand-new two-and-a-half year contract earlier this season. The former Arsenal academy man’s last goal for Saints came in August.
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