Lavia returns to first-team training
Ralph Hasenhüttl has provided a largely positive injury update ahead of Southampton’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The boss confirmed Roméo Lavia has returned to first team training today, with Armel Bella-Kotchap also showing positive signs.
“We’re hoping some players are coming back from injury,” confessed the boss. “Roméo today was, for the first time, back in the session.
“It was a pleasure to see him playing. We’d like to have him in the squad on the weekend but I think we don’t have the OK so far from the physio so we’ll have to wait.
“It’s normal. Because he was out for so long and now he’s the first day in the session so we must pay attention. It’s good to see immediately his quality on the pitch which is fantastic to watch.
“With Armel, he also looks good. It could be that he starts next week to train next week with the team. He wants to try from next week on, he could be an option for the Newcastle game maybe.”
It’s disappointment for Kyle Walker-Peters, though, who is unlikely to see a return until after the international break.
“With Kyle it’s not that good, I think it could be he doesn’t make it to the last game against Liverpool, so we’ll see if it’s possible or not. Low chance, I think.
“Then we have only Tino as our only long-term injury.”
