Harwood-Bellis "in the squad" for Hull trip
Manager Russell Martin has confirmed Taylor Harwood-Bellis is fit enough to feature in the matchday squad for the Sky Bet Championship trip to Hull on Saturday.
The 21-year-old has started the last six games for Saints but pulled out of the England Under-21s squad due to a hamstring injury picked up in the last league outing against Rotherham.
Commenting on the defender’s availability, Russell Martin said: “Taylor is in the squad. We’ll see today whether he’s fit enough to start or not, but he’s come through that pretty well.
“He played with the injury [against Rotherham] so we didn’t know about it until after the game, but that’s his mindset and that’s his mentality.
“He’s a young guy so maybe in a year or two’s time maybe he comes off when he feels something because he might have made it a little bit worse, but it’s not too bad and hasn’t been too serious.”
With nine players away on international duty over the last fortnight, the boss was pleased to report no fresh injury concerns upon their return to Staplewood.
“I don’t think we had any unexpected surprises or anything like that. A couple of the lads needed a bit of a rest having gone three games in a week and not done that in a while, or ever, some of them.
“There will be a couple of people this week we’ll have to manage as they’ve been away on international duty as we have a three game week again.
“We need to put the strongest team out possible to try and keep some consistency if we can with selection and maybe make one or two changes and then approach Preston after that and worry about Birmingham after that one.”
