Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has confirmed that Kyle Walker-Peters will miss this weekend’s clash with Aston Villa.
Hasenhuttl has revealed that Walker-Peters has suffered a calf injury and will not be available for selection.
Speaking to BBC Solent’s Adam Blackmore, Hasenhuttl confirmed the news.
Twitter: #saintsfc Ralph Hasenhuettl confirms that Kyle Walker-Peters has a calf injury and will miss Saturday’s game v Vill… https://t.co/A2W24Bl22X (@AdamBlackmore)
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This leaves Southampton in another awkward situation heading into the game against Villa, as they have no fit senior right-backs available. Walker
Peters is out and there has been no word on Yan Valery, who has not played since the end of November.
So, who should start at right-back?
James Ward-Prowse and Kevin Danso were both deployed there in recent weeks, before Walker-Peters made his debut. Ward-Prowse, a central midfielder by trade, has shown signs of promise in the position as it allows him space on the right to whip crosses into the box and create chances.
Danso, a centre-back, meanwhile has struggled to perform and looked suspect both defensively and on the ball, as he has been caught out positionally and given the ball away with too many loose passes.
The Austrian defender, Danso, has the lowest WhoScored rating in the Southampton squad this season, highlighting the lack of quality in his performances. Ward-Prowse, however, tops Southampton’s squad for WhoScored ratings, albeit predominantly as a central midfielder.
Hasenhuttl could move Ward-Prowse to right-back and allow him the freedom to bomb up and down the right and deliver crosses into the box, whilst selecting Stuart Armstrong or Oriol Romeu into midfield.
Depending on how Hasenhuttl wants to approach the game, he could go with the steel of Romeu as a holding midfielder or opt for the more creative and dynamic Armstrong and attempt to dominate the game.
