SQUAD depth will be paramount during the final stretch of the Championship season with four teams all vying for the coveted automatic promotion spots.
Those are currently occupied by Leeds United (82 points) and Leicester City (82). Ipswich Town (81) sit just behind heading into their last eight games.
In terms of points (73), Saints remain some way off the top two, however, they possess two games in hand and must visit all three teams above them before the campaign ends.
Here we take a look at how Southampton's injury list looks compared to those teams above them...
Southampton
Kyle Walker-Peters
The full-back has missed Southampton's last two games having been forced off against Liverpool in the FA Cup back in February.
Kyle Walker-Peters is expected to return to fitness by the time Saints host Middlesborough on March 29 having been pictured back in training.
Happy to be back, @KWPeters? 😍 pic.twitter.com/ziVsFJZ9FK
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 19, 2024
Ryan Fraser
Much like Walker-Peters, Ryan Fraser is targeting a return just after the international break. The Scot has been out since suffering an injury against Millwall.
Fraser has become a fan favourite since joining on loan but will have to wrestle his starting spot back from David Brooks, who has provided 10 goal involvements in his last 10 games.
Ross Stewart
Summer signing Ross Stewart's first season on the south coast has been plagued by injuries and he looks unlikely to return before the campaign's close.
The former Sunderland forward has managed just two substitute appearances with a hamstring injury ending his hopes of making a splash this season.
Juan Larios
Youngster Juan Larios is another whose time at Saints has been hampered by injury. The Spanish fullback's last appearance came all the way back in November 2022 against Newcastle.
The 20 year old has been pictured in training but also remains a doubt for the rest of this season given the length of his injury.
Step-by-step 📈
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 16, 2024
💪 @juan_larios7 pic.twitter.com/5V344AUDlh
Larios told club media: "I need to go step by step. It's going to be a slow process to build up nice and slow. I just need to take it day to day and hope everything goes well."
Leeds United
Jamie Shackleton
The versatile Jamie Shackleton has suffered several injury blows this season, the most recent being a concussion that ruled him out of their last three games.
The 24 year old has managed just nine league appearances for the Championship leaders this season.
Pascal Struijk
Dutch defender Pascal Struijk scored at St Mary's when Southampton ran out 3-1 winners against Daniel Farke's side earlier this season.
He has been out since December with a groin strain, although that has not hindered the Leeds defence, who have conceded just four goals in his absence.
Stuart Dallas
Stuart Dallas has gone under the knife several times over the last two years, after fracturing his femur, but still remains a way off from returning to full fitness.
Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill expressed his concern for Dallas' future as a return date remains unclear.
Leicester City
Ricardo Pereira
Foxes skipper Ricardo Pereira has been out since sustaining a hamstring injury during training ahead of their defeat to QPR earlier this month.
Boss Enzo Maresca indicated that the injury would rule the Portuguese full-back out until after the international break.
Dennis Praet
Belgian midfielder Dennis Praet is another Leicester player who suffered an injury earlier this month.
He hobbled off in that defeat to QPR while clutching his hamstring and is expected to remain out for a while longer after Maresca estimated he would be out for "three to four weeks."
Kasey McAteer
Kasey McAteer, 22, was on the scoresheet at St Mary's earlier this season when Leicester inflicted a gutting defeat on Martin's men.
His latest injury forced him to miss out on a first call-up for Ireland but could see him return before Saints head to the King Power Stadium, barring any further setbacks.
Ipswich Town
Wes Burns
Key Ipswich attacker Wes Burns was forced to withdraw from the Wales squad this month through injury.
The 29 year old, who has hit five goals and provided three assists this season, suffered a hamstring injury last time out as the Tractor Boys thrashed Sheffield Wednesday 6-0.
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna told EATD: "It doesn't look great. It's a hamstring and it doesn't look like a minor one. I don't think it feels like a minor one."
Brandon Williams
On loan left-back Brandon Williams has not featured in the Championship during 2024 having returned to Manchester United for treatment.
Williams will likely find it difficult to earn a starting spot ahead of Leif Davis, who has provided the joint most assists in the Championship this season (17).
Conor Chaplin
Former Pompey man Conor Chaplin missed the squad for Ipswich's last game - marking the first time he was not involved in a matchday squad this season.
Speaking after their win, McKenna said: “Conor has a strain in his side/back. He wasn’t available for this game, so we’ll have to see how he recovers from it.”
George Hirst
Striker George Hirst is progressing in his recovery after undergoing hamstring surgery in January and could play again this season.
McKenna is hopeful that the 25 year old can get fit in time for their last game of the season against Huddersfield.
Janoi Donacien
The latest injury news is less positive for 30 year old Janoi Donacien. The Saint Lucia international has managed just three league appearances since helping his side to promotion last season.
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