Southampton’s interim manager Simon Rusk has announced that the team will be missing several key players for their final match of the season against Arsenal at St Mary’s on Sunday. The Saints will be without Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who is sidelined due to an ankle injury sustained during last weekend’s game against Everton. Jan Bednarek is also unable to play, grappling with a knee issue that has kept him out of the previous match. Additionally, loanee Albert Grønbæk will not participate, suffering from an Achilles problem, which prevents him from adding to his five appearances since joining from Rennes in January.
Rusk provided insight into the squad’s challenges, stating, “We have a couple of injuries. Taylor had the nasty one last week which will rule him out, Jan Bednarek’s still struggling with his knee so it’s unlikely anything will change with that. Albert Grønbæk is struggling with his Achilles so we have a couple out and a bit of adapting for this one.”
Regarding Kyle Walker-Peters, who has missed the last two games due to illness and is out of contract this summer, Rusk commented on his situation: “There’s a balance with him, he had a nasty illness and it has taken a good bit of getting over. Once we moved past the points record, we’re looking at building momentum for next season and naturally, at this time of year, we’re looking at one or two of the younger ones around the group and there are a few assessments to be made around that. But what I can tell you is Kyle has been great to work with and has been a great servant to the club.”
The team will need to adapt their strategies as they face the formidable challenge of Arsenal, but there is a focus on not only closing the current season on a positive note but also looking ahead to building a stronger squad for the future. The final match is an opportunity for younger players to step up, potentially setting the stage for a renewed strength next season.