Southampton manager Russell Martin has revealed that Saints’ goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu will likely miss the showdown with Leeds United at Elland Road.
Daniel Farke’s Whites sit three points ahead of the Saints, who have a game in hand in the race for automatic promotion, with the two teams set to meet on the final day of the regular Championship season.
Southampton managed to close the gap to the top with a 3-0 win over Preston on Tuesday (16 April), but Martin confirmed after the full-time whistle that he doesn’t know when Bazunu or Flynn Downes will be able to make a return from injury.
As quoted by Yorkshire Evening Post (17 April) he said: “He’s [Downes] felt something in his Achilles and he’ll get a scan tomorrow. I’m sure by the time I speak to you on Friday, we’ll know the extent of it.
“But I don’t expect to see Gavin any time soon at all. I am devastated for him, but we’ll support him in the best possible way because it’s the way this club is.”
Tuesday, April 16, saw Southampton defeat Preston 3-0 to narrow the gap at the top of the table. However, Martin stated during the game that he is unsure of when Bazunu or Flynn Downes will be able to return from injury.
He stated, “He’s [Downes] felt something in his Achilles and he’ll get a scan tomorrow,” as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post on April 17. We’ll know the full extent by the time I talk to you on Friday.
However, I don’t think I’ll see Gavin anytime soon. Although I am heartbroken for him, our club is like that, therefore we will do everything in our power to assist him.
Farke will know that his side are going to have to up their game if they want to finish in the top two this term and they will more than likely have to beat Southampton on the final day to have any hopes of automatic promotion.
While Bazunu has had his critics during his time at St Mary’s, he has improved greatly this season and it would be a massive boost to Leeds if the Irishman isn’t fit to feature against the Whites in the final knockings of the campaign.
Hopefully, Farke’s side will have the job done by then but if they don’t they will hold the advantage in the race. If the rest of the season is anything to go by, there will be plenty of twists and turns in the coming weeks.
