Danny Ings set for six weeks on the sidelines as Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl confirms star striker is set for ‘small’ surgery on Thursday
Southampton have been dealt a hefty injury blow after boss Ralph Hasenhuttl confirmed that star striker Danny Ings could be out for up to six weeks.
The England international is set to undergo a ‘small surgery’ on Thursday morning, which will sideline him for at least a month, according to his manager.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Friday’s game against Newcastle, the Saints boss said: ”The worst thing is maybe Danny Ings. It looks as though he is out for four to six weeks.
‘He will have surgery tomorrow morning, a small one. He is out. This is not good news for us.
‘It is never nice to lose a player like this but we are more than Danny Ings. We scored three other goals last game so it is a big loss for us now that we don’t have it.’
Ings now looks set to miss Southampton’s games against Newcastle, Wolves, Manchester United and Brighton, with additional fixtures against Sheffield United and Arsenal also in doubt if the injury lay-off stretches to six weeks.
The in-form 28-year-old was also in line for an England call-up this month, too, meaning that a six-week spell on the sidelines could see him miss nine matches for club and country.
Ings is Saints’ top scorer this season, having netted five goals in six Premier League matches so far.
His last goal came in the 4-3 win over Aston Villa at the weekend, helping to take Hasenhuttl’s side up to fifth in the top flight.