Ralph Hasenhuttl says midfielder's injury not as bad as first feared
Thursday 6 February 2020 14:43, UK
Southampton and England midfielder James Ward-Prowse was taken off on a stretcher during the FA Cup fourth-round replay against Tottenham.
The 25-year-old suffered a knee injury in the first half of the encounter after trying to block Ryan Sessegnon's clearance.
Team-mates rushed towards Ward-Prowse as he collapsed in agony with Spurs winger Sessegnon visibly shaken by the injury.
Medics quickly treated the midfielder, who also needed oxygen on the pitch before being carried off in a game which Spurs went on to win 3-2 to set-up a fifth round tie at home to Norwich.
However, there was positive news after the match with Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl confirming the injury didn't appear as serious as first feared.
"I'm happy it's not that bad and it only appears to be a cut on the knee," Ralph Hasenhuttl said.
"That would be the worst for me if we had lost the game and lost him for a long time as well.
"So I'm happy it's not any worse and as it's only a cut on the knee, I'm not sure how long it takes, but certainly not as long as a knee ligament injury or something."
It will come as a relief with the player making 30 appearances in all competitions so far this season with Ward-Prowse's displays pushing him in contention for Gareth Southgate's Euro 2020 squad this summer.
