Aston Villa will be without star defender Tyrone Mings when Southampton travel to face Dean Smith’s side on December 21.
The centre-back, who was released by Saints as a teenager, has been a mainstay in the Villa line-up since they completed a big-money move for him in the summer transfer window.
Mings will, however, be absent for a vital period of fixtures for the club, with The Express and Star reporting that his hamstring injury rules him out of Villa’s next three matches in all competitions, at least.
The England international was forced off with the problem in his side’s defeat to Leicester City last weekend.
Read Southampton’s verdict
It’s never good to see a player get an injury, particularly given how well Mings has performed for Villa and England this season.
However, it does come as a boost for Southampton, who will take on a relegation rival without arguably their best defender to overcome.
The focus for now must be on defeating West Ham at the weekend and getting back to winning ways.
But with the fixtures piling up in a hectic winter schedule, any positive news for Saints will be welcome.
