The Southampton forward is expected to be out for two months.
Southampton have been dealt a significant blow, with striker Charlie Austin set to be out for at least two months with a torn hamstring.
The striker suffered the injury in the draw against Huddersfield Town last weekend and missed the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in midweek.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Austin, who is also currently suspended, is set for an extended absence.
Austin has been in impressive form of late, scoring five goals in his last seven Premier League games, and his unavailability makes it even more important for Southampton to sign a new striker in the January transfer window.
Southampton’s other attacking options include Shane Long and Manolo Gabbiadini, but neither player has been able to perform consistently this season and with the club just two points above the relegation zone, it is clear that their attacking resources need to be bolstered.
Failure to address this issue could prove very costly indeed for Southampton, as beyond Austin their next three highest scorers in all competitions this season are Dusan Tadic, Steven Davis and Manolo Gabbiadini, who all have just three goals each.
It seems clear, then, that a new striker should be very high on Southampton’s priority list when the transfer window opens.
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