Bale blow for Saints

Southampton's play-off hopes have been hit by an injury to Gareth Bale.

The highly-rated full-back faces two weeks on the sidelined after picking up a calf injury in the Easter Monday defeat to Sunderland.

Bale has been ruled out of this weekend's clash with fellow promotion hopefuls Birmingham and he is a major doubt for the game with Leeds a week later.

Saints boss George Burley confirmed Bale's absence for the next few weeks.

"Gareth got a couple of whacks, he hurt an ankle and damaged a calf," said Burley.

"He seemed okay but we had it scanned and it showed a small tear, which will put him out for up to 14 days."

Meanwhile, Burley has admitted the club's chances of signing Marek Saganowski on a permanent basis could depend on whether or not they win promotion.

Saganowski, who is currently on loan until the end of the season from Troyes, has been a big success at St Mary's and Burley would be keen to keep the Polish forward on a full-time basis.

Southampton's chances of signing Marek Saganowski could depend on whether the club gain promotion.

"Marek has done very well and we'd like to keep him, but there are so many things up in the air at the moment and a lot of things to get sorted in the summer," added Burley.

"We have to know what league we're going to be playing in, then the finance comes into it as well."