Gavin Bazunu set to miss remainder of Southampton's season with Achilles injury

"Really gutted for Gav, it looks a really bad one, so I don't expect to see him again this season," admitted Saints manager Russell Martin.

INJURY BLOW: Gavin Bazunu is set to miss the rest of Southampton's Championship season. Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Gavin Bazunu is set to miss the rest of Southampton's Championship season after suffering an injury in the warm-up before the Saints' 3-0 victory over Preston North End on Tuesday night.

The Republic of Ireland pulled up shortly before kick-off with a suspected Achilles injury, according to his manager Russell Martin.

"It's a bad one," said Martin.

"Really gutted for Gav, it looks a really bad one, so I don't expect to see him again this season, but obviously we'll know a bit more in the next couple of days and the players and the staff will support him as best as we possibly can, because we have brilliant people here at this club.

"So Gavin knows he's cared for and loved for, and we'll get around him and hope for some good news, but probably expect it to not be very good at all.

"I saw him just after the injury and he's devastated, as are we. He's been amazing for us, he's been such a good player."

Southampton's third win in a row leaves them sitting in fourth place, three points behind Leeds United in third, four behind Leicester City in second and five points league leaders Ipswich Town, although they do have a game in hand over both Leeds and Ipswich.

The South Coast club travel to Leicester next Tuesday night and they end their campaign away to Leeds on May 4, but it looks like they will have to do without Bazunu for those crucial clashes.