Southampton will be looking to break their recent run of poor form on Saturday afternoon.
The Saints are again playing away from St Mary’s, as they travel to the Midlands to face Birmingham City.
Russell Martin‘s side go into that game on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday.
That result means they have lost their last three cosecutive games, and four of their last five in all competitions.
However, following an injury blow suffered at Anfield in midweek, Southampton will have to take on the Blues without one key player.
Kyle Walker-Peters injury update
One blow that the Saints did receive beyond defeat at Liverpool on Wednesday, was an injury to Kyle Walker-Peters.
The right-back had been introduced into that match as a second-half substitute. However, he last just 17 minutes before being forced off with a knock.
Initially, Martin admitted he was unsure what the nature of the injury was.
However, speaking in his press conference on Friday, the Southampton boss revealed that the setback is not a serious one. It will though, keep him out of action this weekend.
As a result, one other Saints player may arguably now be forced into action, somwhat unexpectedly, at St Andrew’s.
James Bree may need to step up for Southampton
The absence of Walker-Peters does leave Martin with a void to fill at right-back.
So far this season, Walker-Peters has started every Championship game for Southampton.
But with that run set to end on Saturday, James Bree may now have to step up again.
The 26-year-old made his first senior appearance since December in that game, after a long spell out with injury himself.
In that period, the right-back missed 13 first-team games. He then lasted just less than an hour on his return at Anfield, before being replaced by Walker-Peters.
Given how regular and reliable Walker-Peters has been for Southampton this season, they may have hoped this could be the start of gradually easing Bree back into action.
But with this latest injury update, the former Luton Town man may have to once again step into the starting XI on Saturday, as the club’s other senior right-back.
That could be a big ask for Bree so soon after returning after so long out. That too is enhanced by the threats Birmingham City have on their left hand side, with the likes of Siriki Dembele and Jordan James capable of causing trouble on that flank.
Ultimately though, with limited other options, that may something they have to ask him to do.
Martin has previously described Bree as a ‘resilient’ player this season. Now it seems as though Southampton may need him to show that quality again this weekend.