Will Still confirmed the extent of Shea Charles' injury during today's press conference ahead of the home match against Preston on Saturday. Charles has suffered a hamstring injury and “is out for a significant amount of time 6-7 weeks," Still told reporters live on the Southampton FC website.
The news will come as a heavy blow. Charles has been one of Southampton's better players in a team that has started the season so poorly. That's no surprise given the player's performance levels while out on loan at Sheffield Wednesday last season. His absence creates a hole that will be difficult to fill.
Southampton's midfield was extremely light at Blackburn. Central midfielder's Caspar Jander and Flynn Downes were forced out due to illness with the same bug bringing down Tom Fellows on the morning of the match.
The manager has expressed his preference for playing a 4-2-3-1 formation but appreciates the need to be pragmatic in a league full of pragmatic teams. With Charles out, there are three players who really need to step up and deliver in the engine room of the Saints' midfield.
Caspar Jander needs to wipe out the defensive mistakes
Jander has impressed since arriving from Nurnberg in the in the closing stages of the transfer window. He uses the ball simply in possession and is aggressive out of possession. He enjoys pressing the ball and winning it back for his team.
Although unspectacular, Jander has been one of Southampton's most reliable players and Saints fans know what to expect from him. If he can add some key passes to his game, he could continue to offer even more in Charles' absence.
What is very clear though is that Jander doesn't always close off the passing lanes, as his mistake at Bristol City highlighted. He'll need to cut those mistakes out quickly if he is to contribute more than just pretty hair and a hair band.
Jander was mightily unlucky not to score against Swansea when the ball rolled past his outstretched foot after it had come back off the post.
Flynn Downes can be the defensive rock Southampton need
Downes really hasn't got going this season and has been very much on the periphary. Illness, injury and poor form have seen his minutes limited and Southampton have been worse off for him being missing.
Against Liverpool, Downes was one of Southampton's best players. He offers solidity in an otherwise pourus area of the pitch. He is the ideal player to partner Jander while Charles recovers.
Today's injury update from the manager suggest that Downes has picked up a knock which could make him doubtful for the visit of Preston at the weekend. So who else have Southampton got who can play in that role?
Could Ryan Fraser be a midfield solution?
When you think of the type of attributes any good holding midfielder needs, determination, aggression, positioning, tackling and passing accuracy might be near the top of your list. Whisper it quietly but doesn't Ryan Fraser possess all of those attributes?
Still has played the 'wee-man' just about everywhere except in goal. But, with Downes doubtful, could the manager ask even more of the scotsman and shuffle him into the centre of midfield? The same could be argued in favour of Liam Manning but with Welington suspended, he will be needed on the left.
The fact that the likes of Fraser and Manning are being mentioned here is almost laughable. Joe Aribo is probably sitting on a training bike somewhere deep inside Staplewood wondering what the hell he needs to do to get a game.
In addition to Shea Charles, Elias Jelert is still injured and Cameron Archer is doubtful after turning an ankle against Blackburn Rovers.