New injury blow for Cork

It has been a difficult time of late for Cork, who picked up an ankle complaint shortly after returning from Olympic duty with Great Britain.

The 23-year-old made his return from the pre-season blow on Tuesday, but limped off nine minutes from the end of Saints' 2-0 Capital One Cup third-round victory against Sheffield Wednesday.

The former Chelsea midfielder was seen at St Mary's on Thursday in a leg brace and confirmed on his Twitter account that he faces another spell on the sidelines.

"Another 4-6 weeks, with my left knee," Cork said on the social media site.

"Lucks just not going my way this season. Could be worse, but was so close to getting back from the ankle."

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins concurred with Cork and, while he feels sorry for the midfielder, backed him to return strongly.

"It has been a stop-start [time for him]," he said.

"Obviously he has been away with GB through pre-season so he has not had a pre-season with ourselves.

"He comes back, he didn't play any games really and he picks up an injury at Bristol City.

"He recovers from that and he has gone and picked up another injury so what it will do is make him stronger.

"It is a good place at Southampton so we'll keep his spirits up, he'll work harder and then when he comes back he will be raring to go."

Adkins, himself a former physio, added the player would not be available "for the weekend or the next couple of weeks".

He added: "He is going to be in a brace for a couple of weeks.

"Who knows if four to six weeks is realistic? I know the diagnosis of it with the history I've got and the experience I've got of these injuries as well. We got a good idea of what it is going to be.

"We have a great medical team here and they will work through the rehabilitation process in the diligent order."

Cork's injury will see him miss Saturday's Premier League clash at Ever ton, where he will be joined on the sidelines by Tadanari Lee.

Adkins confirmed the Japan international will be unavailable with an elbow injury, but was coy when asked if Luke Shaw or Emmanuel Mayuka could return from illness and an ankle complaint respectively.

"Well, last week our goalkeeper (Paulo Gazzaniga) went on Facebook or Twitter to say he was going to be in the team," Adkins said.

"You don't really want to mention the team until it is announced on Saturday.

"We've got one or two little ailments and people we need to just get quite right and on Saturday when the team is announced you we'll know about it."

There was also some positive team news out of St Mary's today, with Adkins revealing captain Adam Lallana would be available to feature at Goodison Park after his girlfriend gave birth to their first child, Arthur Michael, yesterday afternoon.

"Great congratulations to them both, or rather the three of them and the whole f amily," Adkins added.

"The family has had a baby and he has a smashing young son and he can look forward to playing against Everton."