INTERIM boss Simon Rusk revealed that Paul Onuachu sustained an ankle injury during Southampton's 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday.

Onuachu was replaced by Tyler Dibling at half-time after picking up another knock, having also collided with the advertisement board following a header.

Saints had built an attacking plan around the 30 year old, who was supported by Cameron Archer and Kamaldeen Sulemana, but had to rethink things at the break.

Rusk did not want to risk the fitness of Ross Stewart, although he did introduce the Scotsman just past the hour mark.

Southampton's Ross Stewart is not yet ready to play a full 45 minutes in the Premier League.Southampton's Ross Stewart is not yet ready to play a full 45 minutes in the Premier League. (Image: Adam Davy/PA)

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Saints registered just two shots after the break, and Rusk admitted that losing Onuachu was a blow to their goalscoring chances.

"Paul picked up a knock, and he was struggling with his ankle," Rusk told the Daily Echo when asked for an update on the Nigerian forward. 

"Unfortunately, we had to make an enforced change with that, which, based on some of the game plan, was obviously not helpful.

"We've got Ross (Stewart), who is a little bit more like-for-like, but we weren't quite confident that Ross was ready for a full 45 minutes.

"So they're the punches you've got to roll with. That was the overview for me. I'm not too sure how Paul is at the moment. I've not had an update."