The cynics in the Saints support will point to the claim that Fraser Forster has picked up an injury in training as a get out clause for Ralph Hasenhuttl who faced making a decision he does not feel inclined to do and drop Alex McCarthy.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has spoken of his injury list ahead of the game against Brighton and has confirmed that Fraser Forster has joined a growing injury list.

"Fraser Forster has an injury, he picked that up in training. Jack Stephens is back but Stuart Armstrong is still out.

"Jan Bednarek will miss the weekend with his calf injury."

After three games that have seen 8 goals conceded with 5 where the goalkeeper should have done a lot better, many Saints fans have been questioning why Alex McCarthy has not been dropped, but that difficult decision seems now to have been taken out of the manager's hands with the news that Fraser Forster has picked up a knock in training, what he has done is unspecified but I suspect that it will be enough that he can't be picked on Saturday although he will probably still be fit enough for the bench,

Jan Bednarek is a loss, although not as big a one as he would have been last season and i would expect Lyanco to partner Salisu as he did when the pole went off against Leicester in midweek.

So Saints should be able to cover their injury issues, although Forster getting injured just seems a little bit of a coincidence and does give Ralph a get out clause to enable him to keep faith with Alex McCarthy for another game.

Photo: Action Images

Sadoldgit added 12:12 - Dec 3 Ralph doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy to make up bogus reasons not to pick someone.
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A1079 added 12:58 - Dec 3 Ok, what is actually wrong with Stu Armstrong? I may have missed it somewhere but what is his supposed injury? He always seems to be ok when a game for Scotland comes along!
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Peterx added 13:18 - Dec 3 Would rather start Jack and Salisu at the back now Jack's fit. They where very solid together before Jack was injured. Agree something strange has been going on for a while with the Stuart Armstrong situation. We badly need him back though. This game is key, a win I feel will really give us some breathing space.
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vanmans added 14:08 - Dec 3 I dont believe Fraser Forster is injured, it looks like an excuse to keep his favourite McCarthy in goal. It also looks like Ralph and Stuart Armstrong have had a row for him to be out this long with a calf injury. Stuart could be gone in January!
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City_boy added 16:38 - Dec 3 The Forster "unspecified" injury seems very convenient. I don't buy this one ! I am now wondering if his contract has bonus etc linked to games played etc. Just all seems odd ?
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LeTissIwish added 08:03 - Dec 4 Ralph is full of it.
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