Southampton: Hasenhuttl positive on Ings’ injury from Man City clash

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has provided a positive update on Danny Ings’ latest injury that the striker picked up against Manchester City on Saturday.

Saints put in another performance full of effort but lacked the final bit of quality to get a positive result against City as Pep Guardiola’s visitors took a 1-0 win from St Mary’s.

Ings was part of this and was forced off with a hamstring complaint after playing three consecutive games in the past six days, but Hasenhuttl was hopeful that his star man would not be out for long.

Speaking to the media post-match, the Austrian said:

"“It’s a hamstring problem. I’m not sure how much, but it’s clear we were taking a risk with another game for 90 minutes when he has played twice in the week after the long injury, so we hope it’s not too bad.”"

Hasenhuttl also went on to say in the interview with Prime Video above that because it was a hamstring injury and not a reoccurrence of the knee problem, things looked better.

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Results of upcoming scans and assessments will confirm the time that Ings will spend on the sidelines but the fact that he was taken off as more of a precaution rather than being in agony hints at a good outcome.

It is good that Saints and Hasenhuttl can count on other players if they have to make do without Ings for a little while.

The performance of Theo Walcott against Man City was superb and he has proven in the past that he can step into a role as a striker and link with Che Adams perfectly well.

Effort levels that Saints have put in to keep playing in their pressing style have been excellent recently and they will benefit hugely from a week of rest between today and their next Premier League fixture against Fulham.

They sit on 24 points at the moment and are fifth in the table – importantly still in touch with the leading pack in the top-flight despite two recent losses against Manchester United and Man City.