Ralph Hasenhuttl offers injury update on Moussa Djenepo ahead of derby clash

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Ralph Hasenhuttl had hoped that Moussa Djenepo would be fit again in time to play in tonight’s south coast derby against Portsmouth, but says the winger has suffered a setback.

According to Sky Sports, the Saints boss says that the summer signing faces longer than first expected on the sidelines, having come into some form before his injury.

He said: “It can take longer until he is back in the team, which is not really good for us that he could be longer out. It’s a very difficult injury because the tendon is a little bit hurt and it’s a big risk to take him on the pitch.

“He still has problems with his muscle and he cannot shoot. It also can be that the other muscles take the function and try to make this muscle more stable but in the moment, I don’t have a really good message.”

TBR’s View – Southampton need Djenepo back as attack continues to underperform

This was a season in which many – myself included – expected Southampton to push onto better things under Ralph Hasenhuttl, but it isn’t working out quite that way so far.

Djenepo was showing signs of adding pace and invention back to the Saints’ attack, and that’s what Hasenhuttl needs in order to help his frontline weigh in with the required goals.

His absence is a blow, especially for a game tonight which will be a struggle, one where the Saints need all of their classiest operators available.