Southampton manager Russell Martin provides Will Smallbone and Yuki Sugawara injury updates

Will Smallbone is “out for a little bit of time,” while Yuki Sugawara is doubtful for Saturday’s tense trip to Manchester City for Southampton.

In their first eight games since rejoining the Premier League, the Saints have only managed one point and have dropped their last three games in a row.

Martin’s role is already demanding, and things won’t get any easier when they go to play the champs on Saturday at 3 p.m.

They will do so without Smallbone, who returned from a hamstring problem last time out against Leicester but sustained a similar issue against the Foxes.

Defender Sugawara has started all eight league games so far this campaign and could feature, but Martin is not certain he will have recovered from a minor injury in time.

‘Yuki had to come off, so we’re having to manage him a little bit this week. Another 24 hours will depend on if he’s ready to start or not, so we’ll have to make a decision on that,’ Martin told a press conference.

‘Will Smallbone is out now for a little bit of time, which is really frustrating and disappointing for us. Ross [Stewart] is also out for a period of time, which is so disappointing for him and for us.’

Martin was asked about the involvement of Adam Lallana who returned to the club over the summer but has made just one Premier League start and three more substitute appearances.

‘Adam is really involved in the process with us. We have a lot of honest chats and he understands he was brought here to help on the pitch and off it, and he has helped on when he’s been on it,’ said the Saints boss.

‘But I think at 36 years old we can’t expect him to play every single game. There are certain games where he can really help us, and some where he maybe needs to come off the bench rather than start games, depending on how he feels as well.

‘I think he’s a supremely talented player, he’s a really experienced player, and he will definitely help us at some point.’

The clash with Leicester last weekend was something of a disaster, taking a 2-0 lead but ending up losing 3-2 thanks to a 98th minute Jordan Ayew goal, while Ryan Fraser was sent off in the second half.

Martin is looking on the bright side, though, saying: ‘I saw loads of good stuff from them in the game. I don’t think we have ever had a problem with them and how they work or culturally.

‘I think they have been very frustrated. The level of competition has been very good this week.’

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