Russell Martin has confirmed that Kyle Walker-Peters will all but certainly miss Southampton’s trip to Birmingham City on Saturday, in what is a significant blow for the automatic promotion chasers. Right-back Walker-Peters came on in the second half of the FA Cup defeat at Liverpool on Wednesday but he himself was forced off later in the half.
Walker-Peters, 26, is one of only 13 players in the Championship to have played every minute of the season up to now, and only one of five outfield players, and he has contributed a couple of goals under Martin, who only arrived at St Mary’s post-relegation at the beginning of the season. Walker-Peters, having remained after the drop, has been key in this Saints side which has hit the buffers lately after an extended unbeaten run.
“We’re already trying to work out the best way to utilise that break because there’ll be a little bit of rest needed for some of them after 11 games in 35 days, and ourselves as well, but also it’s a brilliant time to get some real work on the training pitch ahead of the last nine games. We’ll try and utilise it in the best way but I think if we can go into it in a really good place with a big week this week it will help everything in that preparation period
