Friday 5 December 2014 20:16, UK
Southampton midfielder Jack Cork is set for at least six weeks on the sidelines with an ankle ligament injury.
Cork's absence leaves Southampton facing a midfield crisis for their Monday Night Football clash with Manchester United, with James Ward-Prowse and Morgan Schneiderlin also unavailable.
The 25-year-old will not play again this year after sustaining the knock in his side's late 1-0 defeat at Arsenal.
Toby Alderweireld has helped fill the void in the past two matches but he too is a doubt with a hamstring injury.
Saints boss Ronald Koeman said: "Jack Cork has ankle ligament (damage) and he will be out for maybe more than six weeks from what I heard from the doctor.
"Morgan Schneiderlin is doing well but he's not fit for Monday.
"Toby Alderweireld is positive. It's not really a hamstring injury, it's more fatigue in his muscle and he's doubtful for Monday.
"Maybe yes, maybe not, we have to wait, the game is on Monday and now we have two or three days more."
Harrison Reed, 19, could make his first Premier League start in central midfield alongside the likes of Victor Wanyama and Steven Davis and his manager offered him words of praise.
"He is ready. He's a young player and he has to develop himself, but always I'm a manager at a club who likes to have development of young players. That means also that you give chances to play," said Koeman.
"I didn't choose Harry when Schneiderlin went off in the game against City because of the level of competition, the physical strength in that game. Toby did it fantastic and the reason I did the same (against Arsenal when Cork went
off).
"Harry played last Monday and young players need to play every week and he's an option for this Monday."
Watch Southampton v Manchester United on Monday Night Football live on Sky Sports 1 HD at 8pm.
