Southampton sweating on fitness of injured £6m man ahead of south-coast derby against Portsmouth
Southampton keeper Daniel Peretz is in a race against time to be fit for the south-coast derby against Pompey
Southampton could be without first-choice keeper Daniel Peretz for the south-coast derby against Pompey.
The £6m summer signing from Bayern Munich has picked up a groin issue while away on international duty with Israel.
The 26-year-old played no part in his country’s goalless draw with Kosovo on Thursday night and he is understood to be making his way back to St Mary’s for treatment.
The Daily Echo has been told Peretz’s early withdrawal from international duty is purely precautionary. However, reports in Israel claim the goalkeeper will be out for 10 days.
Pompey travel to Southampton on Sunday, October 11, which is in nine days time.
Peretz is Southampton’s first-choice keeper
Peretz has been manager Tonda Eckert’s first-choice keeper this season following a 26-match loan stint over the second half of last term.
The former Hamburg shot-stopper has started all of Southampton’s 10 games to date, including their Carabao Cup fixtures against Colchester and West Ham.
Only one clean sheet has been recorded in that time, though, coming against The U’s on the opening weekend of the season.
Meanwhile, Peretz has conceded 14 goals, including two in Saints’ defeat at Wrexham immediately before the international break.
Former Norwich and Millwall keeper George Long is on standby to feature against Pompey if Peretz can’t prove his fitness.
He’s been the preferred back-up option to his team-mate to date this season. However, the 32-year-old’s last senior game dates back to February, eight months ago.
Aaron Ramsdale is also an option but he’s never played under Eckert and has not been involved in any match-day squads this term.
Pompey goalkeeper dilemma
Heading into the much-anticipated game at St Mary’s, the Blues also have a decision to make in the goalkeeping department.
Current No1 Daniel Bielica was criticised for his performance in the 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers last time out.
That followed a costly error in Pompey’s 2-0 defeat against Derby on his debut.
John Mousinho must decide whether to keep faith with the former NAC Breda stopper or recall Nico Schmid, who has been on the bench for each of the Blues’ past four games.
For your next Pompey read: Portsmouth to face Chelsea in warm-up for south-coast derby showdown with Southampton