Southampton right-back Jérémy Pied has sustained a major knee injury and will require surgery to repair the damage, according to the player’s Twitter.
Pied first broke the news himself earlier yesterday, confirming in French and English that the injury, described in French as a ligament rupture, would require surgery.
“I confirm the bad new [sic] for my knee, one ligament is totally cruciate [sic], I need an operation,” the 27 year old Frenchman tweeted yesterday. Sky Sports also confirmed the reports, though the exact nature of the injury remains undisclosed. Neither Southampton nor manager Claude Puel have commented on the circumstances as-yet.
Pied was left off the bench for Saturday’s match against Sunderland with an injury, described at that time as a simple training knock. Fans were hopeful that Pied, who joined on a free transfer this summer, would provide valuable depth at right-back in the campaign ahead.
With the 27 year old’s season now effectively over, and his future in doubt, the club must now turn to Cuco Martina to provide depth and support to Euro-winner Cédric in the long slog ahead.
Martina, 26, had been pipped for a move to Everton and reunion with Ronald Koeman earlier in the week. Those plans now appear to be on hold as the Saints evaluate their options.
It’s a disappointing turn for a club that above all needed to avoid major injury this season. For Pied, it puts his tenure and perhaps the future of his career in doubt. Having followed manager Claude Puel from OGC Nice on a two-year contract, he now finds himself critically injured and surplus to requirements.
The prospect of coming off a severe injury and pushing 30 doesn’t inspire much confidence in a return to form. With his season now over, there is little for Pied to do but watch, wait and hope for the best next year.
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For Southampton, it leaves a gaping and frustrating hole in a key part of the pitch, with little time left to address it. With Europa League group fixtures coming up in a few weeks’ time, time will tell if the wound is as serious for the club as for the man himself.
For now, the march on continues, with one man down and a mountain still left to climb.