SAINTS defenders Armel Bella-Koczap and Jan Bednarek were hospitalized after suffering injuries in the 3-3 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
Both Germany’s Bella-Kotczap and Polish star Bednarek were replaced somewhat awkwardly in the first half of the Premier League game.
Saints manager Ruben Selles gave a brief message, saying: “I didn’t have time, I was only at the doctor’s for a few seconds. The boys are in the hospital and if I have news I will let you know.”
Bella-Kotchup injured his shoulder in a bad landing, and medical personnel helped him with his hand in a makeshift sling as he left the stadium.
At the end of last year, the youngster avoided surgery for a dislocated shoulder to make it to the World Championships, knowing the injury could reoccur.
Meanwhile, Bednarek was taken to the hospital with a suspected broken rib. He is later seen again at St. Mary’s, walking alone.
Even after a two-week international break, both centre-backs could be offside.
Selles said: “We have a great team and the players are working very hard for us. As a last resort, we had to bring in Mohammed Salisa and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
“Lyanko and Duje (Kaleta-Kar) are players to play with, we’ll see what happens.”
Ainsley Maitland-Niles replaced an impromptu centre-back as Bednarek was substituted after Mohammed Salisu had already replaced Bella-Kotchap and had no other options on the bench.
“I don’t know if I can see him playing there until the end of the season, but if we have an emergency he could become a centre-back,” Selles said of the Arsenal mercenary.
“We used him and he responded well. This is something that can happen, I don’t know if it will happen regularly, but this is definitely one of his positions.
Author: Alfie’s house
Source: DailyEcho
Source: Dailyecho
