Southampton striker Charlie Austin will miss “several weeks” of action after limping out of his sides 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth.
Saints manager Ronald Koeman confirmed the 26-year-old’s hamstring injury in his press conference following the loss.
The forward lasted an hour on the pitch before having to exit the game with assistance from the club’s medical staff.
“What I heard from the doctor is that it is a hamstring injury for Charlie,” Koeman said of Austin.
“For sure, I think Charlie will be out for several weeks.”
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Having signed on at St Mary’s in the January transfer window for a reported £4 million, the former Queen’s Park Rangers man has made an indifferent start to his Southampton career.
Scoring the winning goal against Manchester United on his debut, he has since gone four matches without scoring.
Austin will miss the visit of Sunderland on Saturday, and likely the trip to Stoke the following weekend. The Saints then entertain Liverpool at St Mary’s on the 20th of March which could be a likely return fixture for the England forward.
Austin’s strike partner Shane Long also had to be substituted in the defeat following a knock to the knee, but his injury does not seem as serious and will not require any time away from the pitch.
Injuries will likely see Graziano Pelle return to the starting XI against Sunderland with the Italian looking to improve on his six league goals.
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