Martin admits Bazunu injury looks "a really bad one"
Russell Martin does not expect Gavin Bazunu to play again this season after he suffered what appears to be a serious injury during the warm-ups before the game against Preston.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper had to be withdrawn from the starting line-up when he was hurt in the build-up to the match, and while Saints manager Martin explained they will know more in the coming days, he admitted it does not look good.
"It's a bad one," he said. "Really gutted for Gav, it looks a really bad one, so I don't expect to see him again this season, but obviously we'll know a bit more in the next couple of days and the players and the staff will support him as best as we possibly can, because we have brilliant people here at this club.
"So Gavin knows he's cared for and loved for, and we'll get around him and hope for some good news, but probably expect it to not be very good at all.
"I saw him just after the injury and he's devastated, as are we. He's been amazing for us, he's been such a good player."
Without Bazunu, Martin made the call to put Alex McCarthy into the team for only his second appearance of the season, with Joe Lumley remaining on the bench, and the 34-year-old kept a clean sheet as Saints powered to a 3-0 victory.
"It was a big call obviously with Alex or Joe," he said. "We've seen what Joe can do and he's been great in the games he's played, so I wanted to see Al tonight.
"Alex has trained so brilliantly. For him to be third choice, a guy that's played for England, been here a long time, played a lot of games in the Premier League, it's tough, but he trained so well, he's a fantastic goalkeeper and I thought he did great tonight."
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