Southampton's Stuart Armstrong sidelined until the end of season

The Scotland international had to be helped from the pitch on a stretcher at Cardiff, following a lengthy delay.

The 32 year old went down off the ball after his foot planted awkwardly on the ground in the aftermath of a close-range shot.

Southampton had already made all five changes and were forced to play out the final minutes of their 2-1 defeat with 10 men.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Martin said: “He will be out for the season I would have thought. It’s a bad one.

Russell Martin on the touchline at Cardiff City Stadium (Image: PA)

"We are keeping our fingers crossed that it’s not as bad as everyone fears.

“He is on crutches. It’s a really tough day for us all and I’m gutted for him. He played so well today as well. He will be a big miss.”

Armstrong's contract at Southampton expires at the end of the season, meaning he could be without a club in the summer.

On the promotion race, Martin added: "I watched Leicester have a really tough afternoon against West Brom and Carlos will probably feel similar to me with the chances they created and they didn't get anything from the game. 

"So he'll be feeling the same pain as I did today, but Leicester found a way to win, and we didn't. 

"That's why we're not in the top two, and they are. It's really frustrating, but it's four really, really top teams, in my opinion. 

"Today has done us a lot of harm in terms of chasing the automatic spot, but we have to react properly now. We can still get over 90 points."