Manolo Gabbiadini is an injury doubt to face Liverpool on Saturday after pulling up in training with a hamstring problem.

The Italian striker was hoping to get a chance at Anfield with Danny Ings unavailable for selection as he is on loan at Saints from Liverpool until his deal officially becomes permanent next summer.

However, it seems as though Gabbiadini will be robbed of the chance of a first Premier League start of the campaign.

Saints boss Mark Hughes reported: “We have got a couple of issues and probably the main concern is Manolo Gabbiadini who pulled up in training.

“He has an issue in the lower hamstring behind the knee and it might just be a neural thing but we have to wait until tomorrow to see if it settles down and he’s an option for us.”

He added: “We have got a lot of different options.

“Obviously you don’t want to lose any of the options you have got in an attacking sense but if he does miss out we can prepare without those two and still be strong.”