RALPH Hasenhuttl admitted Romain Perraud’s “groin problems were bigger than we thought” but hopes the Frenchman can return to training next week.
Perraud, 24, missed out on the matchday squad when Saints drew 2-2 with Leeds United last Saturday, having earlier returned from a fracture injury picked up in May.
The defender’s continued absence through a separate issue, despite making a substitute appearance at Tottenham Hotspur two weeks ago, has forced Hasenhuttl to stick with his formational change.
Moussa Djenepo is the only player in the Austrian’s squad who can reasonably operate on the left of his defence, with the Malian playing as a left-wing-back in both opening fixtures.
Perraud is on the right side of his recovery again, but is not expected to return in time for either of the club’s next two fixtures.
Asked for an update on his fitness, Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo: “The groin problems were bigger than we thought. It’s not the injury he had in the summer, it’s a muscle injury.
“It’s always a little tricky when you don’t have pre-season and you start and immediately step in.
“Everything was going quite well but the fundamental, the basic was not there or is not there and then you can see sometimes other problems come up.”
He continued: “The timeline is beginning of next week he should be back in training.
“This weekend is too early but hopefully starting next week he is back. That doesn’t mean he can play in the (Carabao) Cup but we will see.”
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