SAINTS head coach Tonda Eckert issued a positive update on the injury sustained by star man Flynn Downes, and he might not miss any games.
Downes hobbled off after just 37 minutes of his side’s 1-0 win against Watford at St Mary’s, after he appeared to hurt himself making a slide tackle.
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The midfielder is backed up by Shea Charles, but he has started the last 13 Championship matches for Eckert and usually completes 90 minutes.
The German insisted Downes is not ruled out of Tuesday’s rearranged visit to Leicester City, despite being in clear discomfort just three days prior.
“It’s actually quite a nice challenge from him, but, obviously, it’s one that ends with contact. He got a little knock right underneath the knee,” said Eckert.
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Tonda Eckert is hopeful that Flynn Downes is not injured
“From what I’ve heard, it doesn’t look too bad in the first place. Let’s hope it’s just a contact injury, but it’s very painful. Then we’ll assess for the next days.
“We’ll see how he is for Tuesday, but I wouldn’t rule him out.”
Charles, 22, was one of the most consistent Saints players under former manager Will Still, but he only just returned from a lengthy injury last month.
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The former Man City academy prospect suffered a hamstring tear in October, and he has been unable to displace in-form Downes and Caspar Jander.
Eckert insisted: “There are worse things in football than having a team up and running and then obviously Shea Charles had been out for almost 100 days.
“There’s no doubt about the quality that he can give us as a player and as a character. But yes, after an injury, you need to be a little bit more patient.
“Sometimes, when things are clicking with the team, you need to be even more patient than you would want to be, but he was very impressive today.”
