Cedric Soares has confirmed that he withdrew from Southampton’s starting line-up at Tottenham Hotspur because of an injury he sustained in the warm-ups.
Twitter: Unfortunately couldn’t help my team due an injury during the warming up for the Tottenham game
but I’m working on… https://t.co/zIPXmBqKic (@OficialCedric)
The Portugal international was named on the initial team sheet, but within an hour of kick-off, he pulled out as Jannik Vestergaard was called into the side, forming a back five.
James Ward-Prowse took Cedric’s place on the right-hand side but had some trouble keeping Heung-min Son quiet.
Tottenham ran out as 2-1 winners, and it certainly looked as though Southampton missed the 28-year-old’s energy up and down the flank.
Read Southampton’s verdict
In a perverse way, it’s encouraging to see that this looks like a genuine injury, rather than a personal problem or a bust-up behind the scenes with Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Cedric has been in good form of late and has emerged as a crucial player for Saints, usurping Yan Valery as the club’s first-choice right-back.
Whether or not he will be available for the upcoming fixture against Chelsea remains to be seen, but Southampton have already struggled in his absence, and his return would definitely be welcome.
