Southampton will be looking to keep in touch with the Championship automatic promotion race on Wednesday night.
The Saints are set to host Preston North End at St Mary’s, aiming to build on Saturday’s win over Birmingham City.
Despite that win at St Andrew’s, Russell Martin‘s side still go into this round of fixtures five points adrift of the top two.
As a result, another win against Ryan Lowe’s play-off hopefuls, could be absolutely vital for Southampton.
However, it looks as though they will again have to try and claim that victory, without one of their key man.
Russell Martin gives Kyle Walker-Peters injury update
On Saturday, Southampton had to do without the services of Kyle Walker-Peters.
The right-back had missed the win over Birmingham City, having been forced off shortly after coming on as a substitute in last week’s FA Cup defeat at Liverpool.
Initially, Martin had been uncertain as to just how long that injury would keep the 26-year-old out for.
Now though, the timescale on the full-back’s potential return to action has become clearer.
Providing an update on the fitness of Walker-Peters ahead of that clash with Preston, Martin told Southampton’s official website:
“He was back on the grass today, tomorrow may be too early. It probably will be. But we’re hopeful to have him back on Saturday.”
That game on Saturday in which Walker-Peters could return will see the Saints host Sunderland at St Mary’s.
Injury blow could have been worse for Southampton
There may be some element of relief for those around St Mary’s about how things have played out with regards to the injury to Walker-Peters.
Given the lack of clarity there was when he first suffered this blow, it is likely there will have been concerns he would have been out for much longer than this.
That would of course, have been a major blow for Southampton. Before picking up his knock against Liverpool, the right-back had been an ever present in the Championship this season.
He has been in solid form throughout the campaign as well. Consequently, he is undoubtedly one of the club’s most important players, and so he would have been a big miss, had he been out long-term.
Of course, those of a Southampton persuasion would surely prefer to have him back for this game, especially given the form their visitors are in ahead of Wednesday.
However, this update does at least mean Walker-Peters will be available for some big matches with other promotion hopefuls between now and the end of the season.
That at least, is certainly a positive for Southampton.