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Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl confirmed in his Cardiff City pre-match press conference on Thursday, via southamptonfc.com, that striker Danny Ings will be out for 2-3 weeks following the hamstring issue he suffered against Burnley last weekend, and it is a setback that could have big repercussions for the south coast outfit.

What's the word, then?

Well, there would have been some big fears from Saints fans when they saw the 26-year-old limp off before the half-hour mark against the Clarets at Turf Moor on Saturday, and Hasenhuttl has confirmed those fears by revealing that the centre-forward could be absent for up to three weeks.

The 51-year-old said: "He had problems with his hamstring, and that cost him another two or three weeks to come back. We will miss him for sure."

While the player who will join Southampton on a permanent £20m deal in the summer will certainly miss out against Cardiff at St Mary's this weekend, he is surely also a big doubt for the trip to Arsenal and the match at home to Fulham before the end of the month as well.

What are the consequences?

Southampton lie just two points above the relegation zone ahead of their clash against the Bluebirds, and Hasenhuttl would surely have identified both that fixture and the one against another team in the relegation zone in Fulham as ones that they need to take six points from.

With trips to Arsenal and Manchester United either side of hosting the Cottagers, there is no doubt their home matches are key and it will be a major blow if they don't have their best striker available for the next fixture and thatone.

In his absence, the Austrian manager will be looking towards the likes of Shane Long, Charlie Austin and Sam Gallagher to step up to the plate, and for Nathan Redmond to continue his rich vein of form in front of goal.

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