SAINTS defenders Armel Bella-Kotchap and Jan Bednarek have both visited hospital following injuries during the 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
Both German international Bella-Kotchap and Polish stalwart Bednarek were substituted in some discomfort during the first half of the Premier League tie.
Saints manager Ruben Selles offered a brief update, saying: “I didn’t have time, I was just with the doctor for a couple of seconds. The boys are in the hospital and when I have news I will let you know.”
Bella-Kotchap hurt his shoulder in an uncomfortable landing and was assisted by medical staff with his arm in a makeshift sling, as he left the stadium.
The youngster avoided surgery for a dislocated shoulder towards the end of last year so he could make the World Cup, knowing a recurrence of the injury was a possibility.
Bednarek, meanwhile, was taken to hospital following suspected broken ribs. He was later seen back at St Mary’s and walking on his own.
Both centre-backs could face a spell on the sidelines, even after the two-week international break as of now.
Selles said: “We have a big squad and the players are working really hard for us. We had to bring in Mohammed Salisu and Ainsley Maitland-Niles in that as an emergency solution.
“Lyanco and Duje (Caleta-Car) are players that we can play with, let’s see what happens.”
Ainsley Maitland-Niles filled in as a makeshift central defender when Bednarek came off, after Mohammed Salisu had already come on for Bella-Kotchap with no other options on the bench.
“I don’t know if I can see him playing there for the rest of the season but if we have something like an emergency situation he is a centre-back option,” Selles said, of the Arsenal loanee.
“We used him and he responded well. It’s something that can happen, I don’t know if it will be regularly but for sure it is one of his positions.”
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