Southampton were triumphant over Championship opposition as they beat Millwall 1-0 in their fifth friendly of pre-season on Saturday.
The win courtesy of a goal from Adam Armstrong saw Southampton win their fourth game of the summer, with the 2-0 defeat to Oxford United in midweek the only loss they have suffered.
Russell Martin will be much closer to knowing his starting XI than he was at the beginning of the summer, with the preparation for the Premier League ramping up since Southampton returned from their training camp in Spain.
The Saints appear to have come through the win over Millwall unscathed but were still without last season’s £10 million signing Ross Stewart as he continues to build his fitness after long-term injury.
There were two other notable absentees, with Sekou Mara and Kamaldeen Sulemana both missing after coming off injured against Oxford on Wednesday.
Whilst Mara’s injury does not look to be serious, Martin revealed post-match the extent of Sulemana’s absence.
Kamaldeen Sulemana to miss start of Southampton season
Both Mara and Sulemana appeared to roll their ankles at the Kassam Stadium in midweek before being withdrawn in the first-half.
Mara has been heavily involved so far this pre-season, owing mostly to the fact that Che Adams has left the club, Stewart continues to be absent and Ben Brereton Diaz has only just arrived.
Sulemana has been less of a feature despite the fact he is the club’s record signing and would likely have been allowed to leave this summer if the Saints received a suitable offer despite a lack of options in wide areas currently.
That plan – or any plan to get him ready for the start of the season – looks to have been scuppered as Martin has now revealed the Ghanaian will miss the beginning of the campaign.
Speaking after the Millwall clash, Martin confirmed: “”Kamaldeen is out for three weeks.”
This would see Sulemana miss at least Southampton’s first two Premier League games of the season against Newcastle United and then Nottingham Forest.
He added a more positive prognosis for Mara, saying: “Sekou will be back on for Wednesday, I would have thought.”
Kamaldeen Sulemana likely to be a Southampton player this season
Having been signed for £22 million on transfer deadline day in January 2023, Sulemana was evidence of Southampton desperately trying to bring in a player to help them avoid relegation that season.
As it turned out, it was to no avail as Sulemana scored just twice – both on the final day when the Saints were already relegated – and failed to make his mark.
Having started last season with an injury when many expected a summer departure after just six months at the club, Sulemana came into the side following his return and looked a player who could make an impact.
However, the 22-year-old failed to score in the Championship and registered just three assists despite his obvious ability before sustaining another injury.
Sulemana barely featured towards the end of the season and looked disinterested at times leading to many expecting the winger to leave this summer.
However, this fresh injury update may well have put a spanner in the works for any summer exit and it now looks likely Sulemana will remain a Saint until at least January with Samuel Edozie and 18-year-old Sam Amo-Ameyaw the only natural wingers currently at the club.