Fresh injury concern for key Southampton man ahead of Portsmouth showdown

Southampton striker Cyle Larin is facing a race against time to be available for Sunday’s south-coast derby against Pompey.

The in-form 31-year-old is currently a huge doubt to face the Blues this Sunday after sustaining an injury setback while on international duty for Canada.

The £3m frontman has been in red-hot form at St Mary’s since his loan stay was made permanent in the summer, netting eight goals in 10 outings prior to the three-week stoppage.

This saw him claim the Championship player of the month award for September, underlining his importance to Tonda Eckert’s side, who sit 13th at present.

However, there remains a nervousness regarding his fitness ahead of this weekend’s eagerly-anticipated showdown at St Mary’s.

Injury concerns for key Southampton man after international absence

Canada boss Jesse March revealed Larin sustained a minor back injury in the weights room ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Peru.

The head coach admitted the Southampton man was touch and go for the fixture and insisted he would make a ‘game-time decision’ on his availability.

The striker, though, was a no-show for the 2-0 triumph at the Stade Saputo, casting fresh concerns over the extent of the injury setback.

Larin remains with the national team, who continue to monitor his fitness ahead of their final contest of the international break with a friendly against the United States on Wednesday.

The striker will then return to St Mary’s later this week where he will continue to be assessed ahead of Pompey’s visit in the latest meeting between their bitter rivals.

Southampton injury worries ahead of Pompey

Larin becomes the latest injury concern for Eckert, whose future also remains in doubt as he awaits the verdict of his FA hearing for the Spygate scandal.

The German could be without number one Daniel Peretz, who withdrew from the Israel squad during the international break.

The keeper returned to the south-coast to receive treatment on a groin issue, which was expected to keep him sidelined for 10 days.

Peretz has been an ever-present at St Mary’s since his £6m capture from Bayern Munich in the summer, but is yet to keep a clean sheet in his eight Championship outings so far.

Should the shot stopper fail to recover from his setback, No2 George Long is in contention to make his first league start, while ex-Arsenal man Aaron Ramsdale is also battling for a spot in Eckert’s ranks after falling down the pecking order.

Although Southampton are facing a race against time to make Larin and Peretz available for Sunday’s derby, Pompey have injury issues of their own.

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Pompey injury latest

Conor Shaughnessy is expected to miss the St Mary’s trip with a groin issue, along with centre-back partner Benjy Arthur, who is facing a prolonged period out with a stress fracture in his back.

Thomas Waddingham (ankle), Luke Brooke-Smith (ankle), Franco Umeh (hamstring), Connor Ogilvie (knee), Josh Murphy (groin) and Mark Kosznovszky (knee) will also sit out.

Meanwhile, Keshi Anderson has been pencilled in to complete his return from a quad tear, while Marko Milovanovic will be assessed having missed the final two games before the international break with a calf problem.

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