Southampton manager Russell Martin has stated that Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu would most likely miss the match against Leeds United at Elland Road.
Daniel Farke’s Whites are three points ahead of the Saints, who have a game in hand in the battle for automatic promotion, and the two clubs will play on the final day of the regular Championship season.
Southampton closed the gap to the top with a 3-0 victory over Preston on Tuesday (16 April), but Martin revealed after the game that he has no idea when Bazunu or Flynn Downes will be able to return from injury.
According to the Yorkshire Evening Post (17 April), he stated: “He [Downes] has felt something in his Achilles and will have a scan tomorrow. I am confident that by the time I speak with you on Friday, we will know the full nature of the situation.
“But I’m not expecting to see Gavin anytime soon. I am devastated for him, but we will support him to the fullest extent possible because that is how this club operates.”
Will Leeds United win the battle for an instant return to the Premier League following Southampton’s update?
Leeds United are currently firmly in the Championship title race, having squandered many chances to leapfrog Leicester City and Ipswich Town since the international break.
Farke will be well aware that his team will need to improve if they are to finish in the top two this season, and they will almost certainly need to beat Southampton on the final day to have any chance of automatic promotion.
While Bazunu has had his critics at St Mary’s, he has progressed significantly this season, and it would be a huge help to Leeds if the Irishman is unable to face the Whites in the campaign’s final few games.
Hopefully, Farke’s team will have finished the task by then, but if not, they will have the advantage in the race. If the rest of the season is any indication, expect lots of twists and turns in the coming weeks.
