Ralph Hasenhuttl confirms Southampton injury fears for Jan Bednarek ahead of Fulham clash

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Ralph Hasenhuttl has confirmed that Jan Bednarek is Southampton’s only non-long-term injury concern ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Fulham at St. Mary’s.

Scott Parker’s Cottagers visit the south coast looking for a positive response this weekend, after their relegation to the Championship was sealed with a 2-0 defeat at home to Burnley on Monday night (BBC).

Southampton were also in midweek action at home to Crystal Palace and beat the London outfit 3-1 to snap a four-game winless run, but lost Bednarek at the start of the second half after he took a knock on his heel.

Bednarek has been a fixture of the Saints’ backline this term starting all 35 of their Premier League fixtures, as well as all FA and Carabao Cup ties, but had been unable to train in the days following the Eagles affair.

Hasenhuttl was unable to share while speaking to the media on Thursday whether or not Bednarek has recovered from the ankle injury in time to face Fulham, when he will still be without long-term absentees Ryan Bertrand (calf) and Oriol Romeu (ankle).

“Bertrand and Ori are still out – long-term injuries also – but I think that is it,” Hasenhuttl said, via quotes by the Saints’ club website. “Bednarek has a little problem with his ankle. Last game, he got a hit on his heel [and] he hasn’t trained since the last game.”

TBR’s view:

Hasenhuttl potentially being without Bednarek for the first time this season will come as a blow for the Southampton boss ahead of hosting Fulham on Saturday, having lauded the Poland international for the consistency to his performances.

“He is robust. He is one of the best defensive fighters, I say always he’s a firefighter who really does everything to protect his own goal,” the Saints boss told the Daily Echo in March.

But losing Bednarek for the visit of Fulham will come as less of a blow as it would in previous games, with Parker’s side only scoring once in their last four Premier League matches and showing little spirit or fight after falling two goals behind at home to Burnley on Monday.

Having relegation confirmed could take some of the pressure off the Fulham players’ shoulders and allow them to display their abilities more freely, but Southampton should still have enough in their ranks to limit what threat the Cottagers could pose.