Southampton head coach Ralph Hasenhuttl had confirmed that Kyle Walker-Peters is ruled out of Sunday's Premier League clash against Arsenal and he is set for "a long time out" on the sidelines.
The 25-year-old right-back sustained a hamstring injury in an attempt to block a cross midway through the second half of the Saints' 1-0 win away at Bournemouth on Wednesday.
Walker-Peters has been a first-team regular for Southampton so far this season, starting as either a right-back or right wing-back in all 11 Premier League fixtures.
However, Hasenhuttl has confirmed that the former Tottenham Hotspur defender is unavailable to face Arsenal this weekend and is set for a lengthy spell on the treatment table.
"We have another big injury. Kyle will be out for the long term. It's a hamstring injury. We will see how long," the Austrian told reporters at his press conference on Friday.
"There's a lot of blood so we don't know yet. It was a long step he made to the ball and this was the moment the injury came."
Walker-Peters had been tipped to receive an England call-up by Gareth Southgate for the 2022 World Cup, after fellow right-backs Reece James and Kyle Walker picked up injuries earlier this month.
However, the two-cap international is now a major doubt for the tournament in Qatar, and Hasenhuttl is not surprised to see a number of Premier League players pick up injuries during such a hectic fixture schedule.
"I think for every player who has a chance for the World Cup, now is a very, very tough time," Hasenhuttl added.
"Because you have to play Premier League games, maybe Champions League games on a very intense, high level. And know that in the short term, there is coming one of the biggest things for the players, which is the World Cup for them.
"This is a little bit different to other situations where you are maybe at the end of the season in the summer and let it run out a little bit and concentrate on the World Cup.
"Now they have to push hard, everybody. That is reason why maybe we have a strange situation where a lot of players are maybe missing the World Cup."
With Valentino Livramento still recovering from an ACL injury and with Arsenal loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles ineligible to face his parent club, Hasenhuttl could hand 18-year-old summer signing Juan Larios a start at right-back on Sunday.
Southampton will also be without centre-back Armel Bella-Kotchap after he dislocating his shoulder against West Ham United last weekend, but Romeo Lavia has returned to first-team training after eight weeks out with a hamstring injury, although Sunday's game will come too soon for the midfielder.
"Armel [Bella-Kotchap] is still out also and will take a bit of time. Not sure how long," said Hasenhuttl. "This injury can always happen again if you don't have surgery but he's a strong guy.
"Romeo [Lavia] is back in training but after a long time out it will take time. It's good to see him back training with the team."
Southampton, who currently sit 14th in the Premier League table, will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to three matches when they welcome leaders Arsenal to St Mary's. body check tags ::
