Southampton supporters have been handed an update on midfielder Romeo Lavia’s condition ahead of their Premier League clash with Bournemouth.
The Lowdown: Saints mis-firing…
The Saints picked up their first point in five games on the south coast against West Ham last weekend but are without a win since their 2-1 home victory against Chelsea in late August.
Ralph Hasenhuttl, as a result, is under increasing pressure at St. Mary’s Stadium and a trip to Bournemouth presents a truly tough test for them right now.
The Cherries are undefeated in their last five, having picked up good results against the likes of Newcastle (1-1) whilst also beating Nottingham Forest and Leicester City.
A trip to the Vitality Stadium cannot be underestimated at this present moment and Hasenhuttl will need every star man available to pitch in.
The Latest: Saints without Lavia alongside Bella-Kotchap…
Recently, Southampton were dealt a big injury blow with defender Armel Bella-Kotchap ruled out for the foreseeable future.
Amid this bad news, it appears fellow summer signing Lavia also won’t be able to play a part tonight, still recovering from a hamstring injury which has kept him out since the win against Chelsea.
Sharing an update on his condition, journalist Mark Wyatt has shared that the 18-year-old still hasn’t returned to training, but could be back by the end of the week.
He relayed (via Twitter):
“Romeo Lavia is not back in team training yet. Expected back by the end of the week.”
The Verdict: Big miss…
When able to feature, the Belgian has been a revelation, ranking in Southampton’s top four in terms of average match rating whilst also managing their second-highest rate of interceptions per 90 (WhoScored).
The former Man City starlet has been hailed for his limited performances in a Saints shirt with football analyst Marcus Bring calling the teenager ‘sensational’.
Lavia’s composure on the ball for such a young player could be deemed frightening, still averaging a higher pass accuracy (88.4%) than any current Southampton regular.
Hasenhuttl could have a real star on his hands and supporters will hope he can return as soon as possible.