Southampton: Key Saints man unable to start against Norwich

Southampton have been hit with a slight blow ahead of their crucial game with Norwich after the news that Sofiane Boufal will be unable to start.

Ralph Hasenhuttl told the media on Wednesday that the Moroccan winger’s toe injury had worsened since his superb impact from the bench against Watford on Saturday.

Boufal was introduced in the 57th minute in Saints’ 2-1 win over their rivals at the bottom of the Premier League table and played a key role in the comeback that he and his teammates pulled off.

In his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Hasenhuttl said:

"“I must say that it’s getting worse [Boufal’s toe injury] and this isn’t a good signal. After the game, the reaction wasn’t the best one. Wednesday will be difficult I think. He might be on the bench but not from the beginning. This isn’t a positive message, but maybe he won’t train today [Tuesday] I think. The rest of the team is okay.”"

Whilst Boufal may have earned a start with his display against Watford, the fact that he may have to come on from the bench again may not be the worst thing at this stage.

He seems to make more of an impression on the game when coming on for the second-half – perhaps because of the motivation that provides.

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Boufal has proven himself to be a great asset to Saints at times but has also shown that he will back himself to deliver given his huge self-confidence.

One moment that sticks out in the memory is his Goal of the Season from the 2017/18 campaign when he took on almost the whole West Brom team to slide home the brilliant winning goal in an otherwise turgid game.

After finding the net, he chose to run over to then Saints manager Mauricio Pellegrino to make a point – that he should be starting.

Now – following a spell last season with Celta Vigo in Spain – he appears to be in a similar situation.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has handed him four starts so far, whilst he has been substituted in during a further seven matches.

Clearly he will be wanting to become a mainstay in the Saints starting 11, but for now he will have to keep focused like he has done since returning from his loan spell and concentrate on impressing when he gets the chance.