FORWARD Ross Stewart's latest injury is not a "long-term" set-back, Saints boss Russell Martin has confirmed.

The Scottish forward was forced off in the first half of Southampton's 3-1 defeat at Arsenal having gone down off the ball.

Stewart was later seen walking around the Emirates without any support having suffered what Martin described as a "muscle injury."

Speaking ahead of Southampton's home fixture against Leicester on Saturday, Martin insisted Stewart will "bounce back" from this latest spell on the sidelines. 

He said: "Ross came off (at Arsenal) and won’t be available but it's not a long-term injury. It's a frustrating setback for Ross and is disappointing for him and us.

"I think it's natural for him to be really disappointed after his first Premier League start to get injured and for it to be cut short.

"I think we just have to support him in the best way we possibly can, as we always do. I think there's no one more upset and hurt than Ross.

Southampton's Ross StewartSouthampton's Ross Stewart (Image: Stuart Martin) "Then we feel all of that with him and for him. We just have to support him and bring him back in the best way we possibly can.

"It's not going to be a long-term injury. I think the international break has come at a good time for him which means he won't miss a huge amount of games.

"We just need to support him mentally and psychologically more than anything physical because he's had one setback after the other. We'll do that. 

"We have a brilliant group of people here, players and staff, to support him and he knows that. He knows he's loved and cared for.

"I think he'll get through it at some point. These setbacks will maybe still happen, but hopefully fewer and far between. He'll be supported in the best way possible."

Stewart only managed 42 minutes for Southampton, across four appearances, in his first season having joined from Sunderland last summer.

Saints were patient with his fitness this summer, avoiding any opportunity to exacerbate a small niggle. 

That had allowed him to double his total minutes played this season and saw him earn a first start at the Emirates.