Southampton’s goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu is likely to sit out the remainder of the season due to injury.
Pundit Carlton Palmer doesn’t think Gavin Bazunu’s injury provides an edge to Ipswich Town, Leicester City, or Leeds United in the automatic promotion race. Bazunu got injured during Southampton’s warm-up before the match against Preston North End on Tuesday. Manager Russell Martin stated that he doesn’t anticipate the 22-year-old goalkeeper playing again this season.
“It’s a serious one,” Martin stated on the club’s official website. “I’m really disappointed for Gav; it appears to be a significant injury, so I don’t anticipate him returning this season. However, we’ll have more information in the coming days. The players and staff will offer him all the support we can, as we have fantastic people at this club.
“Gavin is aware of the care and support he has from us. We’ll rally around him and hope for positive news, although we’re prepared for it to be quite grim.
“I spoke with him shortly after the injury, and he’s devastated, as we all are. He’s been exceptional for us, a truly outstanding player.”
Bazunu, who had been a consistent presence in Southampton’s league lineup this season, showcased his goalkeeping prowess with 11 clean sheets in 41 appearances. His absence poses a significant setback for Martin’s squad.
In the match against Preston, Alex McCarthy stepped in for Bazunu, with Joe Lumley serving as the substitute goalkeeper. Despite the late change, Southampton delivered a commanding 3-0 victory, maintaining their aspirations for automatic promotion.
Currently positioned fourth in the table, Southampton trails second-placed Leeds by four points and league leaders Ipswich by five. However, they possess a game in hand over some of their competitors and have upcoming fixtures against both Leicester and Leeds, offering opportunities to narrow the gap.
Palmer believes that Southampton won’t be affected by Bazunu’s injury.
In an exclusive interview with Football League World, Palmer stated that although Bazunu’s injury is unfortunate for Southampton, he doesn’t anticipate it will greatly influence the automatic promotion race.
Palmer expressed concern over Southampton’s situation, noting the absence of their standout goalkeeper, Gavin Bazunu, due to an Achilles tendon injury.
“It’s a significant setback for Southampton, especially considering Bazunu missed their last victorious match,” Palmer remarked. “Despite this setback, Southampton has won their last three matches, revitalizing their bid for an automatic promotion spot.”
He highlighted Southampton’s game in hand against Ipswich and Leeds, suggesting that a win could propel them back into contention. However, Palmer hesitated to label it as an advantage for their rivals, Leeds, Leicester, and Ipswich, given the limited number of remaining games in the season.
“Teams typically have only three or four matches left, so it’s not necessarily advantageous for the other sides,” Palmer explained. He emphasized the importance of having backup goalkeepers, expressing confidence that Southampton’s replacement would step up.
As Southampton faces critical fixtures against Cardiff and Leicester, Palmer believes these matches will determine their fate in the promotion race. Despite the challenges, Palmer acknowledged Southampton’s resilience and their potential to secure points in the upcoming fixtures.
Alex McCarthy is an ideal substitute for Gavin Bazunu at Southampton.
As Palmer suggests, while Bazunu’s absence will be felt by Southampton, they have an excellent replacement in McCarthy. Although McCarthy hasn’t had much playing time this season, his extensive experience in the Premier League makes him a dependable option for the team.
Despite Bazunu’s injury, Southampton didn’t show any signs of struggle in their recent match against Preston, securing a convincing victory. With three successive wins under their belt, Southampton’s confidence is soaring. As they remain firmly in contention for automatic promotion, upcoming matches against Cardiff City, Leicester, Stoke City, and Leeds offer them opportunities to continue their push towards the top two spots.