Koeman ponders mounting injury list

Ronald Koeman

An already difficult clash with West Ham has been made all the tougher for Southampton manager Ronald Koeman by a string of absentees.

Things look rosy on the south coast right now, with Saturday’s last-gasp win at QPR propelling them back to the third in the standings.

It means Saints have won six of their last eight league matches – a feat made all the more impressive by the number of key players they have had to cope with over that period.

Wednesday’s visit of West Ham is no different for manager Koeman, who has Shane Long, Jay Rodriguez, Ryan Bertrand, Matthew Targett and Lloyd Isgrove all unavailable.

Ireland's Shane Long is among the players currently injured.

Morgan Schneiderlin will be assessed ahead of the match, while the Saints boss confirmed Emmanuel Mayuka’s season is over with groin injury sustained on African Nations Cup duty with Zambia.

That lengthy list of absentees means Filip Djuricic, a deadline-day loan acquisition from Benfica, could make his Saints debut despite a lack of match-fitness.

“Finally Filip Djuricic got his work permit yesterday afternoon and did a normal training session this morning,” Koeman said.

“He’s part of the squad for tomorrow and it’s an exception because it’s not, in my opinion, good to have a player with one session in the last week.

“We miss eight or nine players tomorrow so (I will make) an exception to put Djuricic on the bench but if we need a quality player I can put Djuricic in, not for 90 minutes but for 45 minutes or less.”

It is a far from ideal scenario ahead of a match few expect to be anywhere near as straightforward as August’s 3-1 win at Upton Park.

Sam Allardyce’s side, much like Saints, have surprised onlookers this term and approach this match eighth in the standings.

Only a late Daley Blind strike denied West Ham victory against Manchester United on Sunday, while Koeman is wary of the potential return from injury of Andy Carroll.

“I am expecting a difficult game because I watched the game last Sunday and I think they played very well, very physical strong, but maybe it depends on the yes or no start from Carroll,” he said.

“The player, if he plays, they can play a little bit more direct, but they showed without that player that they can play good football.

“It is difficult but they had very good opportunities to kill the game and in the end were a little bit unlucky with one point.

“That was, I think, the best result for us.”

Carroll has certainly proved a better acquisition than Southampton’s own club-record signing, Dani Osvaldo.

The Italy international is persona non grata at St Mary’s after headbutting captain Jose Fonte last January, leading to loan spells at Juventus and then Inter Milan.

The Nerazzurri have also have grown tired of the troublesome striker and are cutting his season-long loan short.

QPR were linked with Osvaldo a few weeks back but Press Association Sport understands the forward will be joining Boca Juniors of Argentina on loan.

“If he signs for Boca – I saw something on the internet – he’s very happy,” Koeman said.

“I’m happy if he is happy and he can stay for some seasons, no problem.”