Manchester City vs Southampton: Saints team news | Hasenhuttl gives Armstrong & Walcott injury update

Southampton head into Saturday seeking their first win of the season. However, such a result could be hard to come by this week as Saints take on Premier League champions Manchester City.

Before the game, Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has given an update on his injury list.

Scotland international Stuart Armstrong will not feature against City according to the Austrian.

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Armstrong is nursing a calf injury - one which has forced him out of the most recent round of international fixtures and has limited him to zero minutes on the pitch so far this season.

Hasenhuttl believes Armstrong will be back available by the end of September.

“With Stu, with the calf, there is a bit of blood still in there. It will take a few more days to clear and maybe one or two weeks to come back,” Hasenhuttl said. “We’ll give him the time he needs.”

Theo Walcott has been another recent absentee for Southampton.

Like Armstrong, the summer signing has been struggling with an undisclosed muscle problem and Hasenhuttl suggested that Walcott will be available again in a similar timeframe.

There is some positive team news for Southampton.

Will Smallbone has returned to training but will be gradually eased back into things before he takes to the pitch. Smallbone has been out of action since picking up a knee injury earlier in 2021.

Meanwhile, Shane Long is now available. The Republic of Ireland striker missed last week’s draw against West Ham United after testing positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus while on international duty.