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Southampton striker Charlie Austin out for 'three to four months' with shoulder injury

Southampton's English striker Charlie Austin (C) is helped from the pitch after picking up an injury after landing awkwardly during the UEFA Europa League
Image: Southampton striker Charlie Austin will be out for around three to four months

Southampton striker Charlie Austin will be out for three or four months with a dislocated shoulder, manager Claude Puel has confirmed.

Austin injured his shoulder playing for the Saints against Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the Europa League on Thursday night.

The striker, who is Southampton's top scorer this season with nine goals, underwent tests on the injury on Friday and sat out the 1-0 win over Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Puel said the striker is likely to need an operation, but is adamant the squad has sufficient back-up.

"Normally he needs surgery and will be perhaps between three months and four months (out)," Puel said. "It's a good estimation for the time after the surgery. Is it dislocated? Yes I think. Will it need surgery? Yes, normally yes."

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Highlights from Southampton's 1-0 win over Middlesbrough.

"We have Shane Long, Jay Rodriguez, Dusan Tadic and Sofiane Boufal; it's important to work with all the players," said the Southampton manager.

"It is a disappointment for him because he has had a good first part of the season, but it's important for the team to have a good answer with a different offensive player.

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"We will see the quality of other players. We are a group, a collective, and it is important to consider all of this, not individual things."

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