Saints could throw yet another teenager into their starting line-up when they visit Spurs on Sunday.

With injuries mounting at St Mary’s, manager Mauricio Pochettino revealed that he is thinking of drafting an additional young player into the team this weekend.

Saints have already lost Jack Cork and Victor Wanyama to injury this month, while Morgan Schneiderlin is doubtful for the trip to White Hart Lane with a muscular problem.

That leaves Pochettino, who has fielded five different teenagers in the Premier League this season, short of options in the defensive midfield area.

James Ward-Prowse will likely continue there, having started in last week’s 4-2 win against Norwich, and there could be an opening for fellow 19-year-old Harrison Reed to start his first ever Premier League match.

Alternatively, Steven Davis could drop back into that role.

“I think it’s a very good chance to bring in young players, to give them a very good experience playing against a very big team in the Premier League, and I expect them to play as they always play – to play well, to have a very good performance, to put in a very good effort,” said Pochettino.

“It’s a very good time when you’re facing difficulties in terms of injuries, you bring in young players, you give them experience, and it will be a very good thing for the future as well.”

When pressed on who he was considering, Pochettino said: “Just seeing the doubts we have in our senior players, we’re thinking about maybe drafting a younger player into the team.”

Saints also have a doubt over Guly do Prado, while Kelvin Davis remains sidelined with a hamstring problem.

Gastón Ramírez was forced off with cramp last Saturday and has been “training under certain precaution” this week, according to Pochettino.

Centre-half Dejan Lovren, who suffered an excruciating-sounding injury last week, when a testicle swelled up after being stood on, has now been enduring a different problem, although a smiling Pochettino did say he has recovered from his initial issue.

“Dejan spent a couple of days with his back being quite stiff, but his other areas, his private parts, were ok,” he said.