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The young defender faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering a muscle injury
Mohammed Salisu’s hope of making his first appearance for new club Southampton against Shrewsbury Town on Saturday seems unlikely as he suffered a muscle injury.
Signed from Real Valladolid in August last year, the Ghanaian center-back has had to wait for the right moment to receive his bow from the Saints, initially due to fitness issues and, more recently, a fight to get into the first team. of the club.
Last month, Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl had hinted that the 21-year-old could probably make his debut against less risky lower-division Shrewsbury Town in a bid to take him into elite English action.
After six consecutive appearances on the bench in the Premier League and with the FA Cup match getting closer and closer, the central defender was surprisingly absent from the bench as the Saints handed Liverpool a 1-0 loss at the highest. category on Monday.
“Again, muscle injuries, both,” Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo when asked about the absence of the Ghanaian and forward Michael Obafemi in the Liverpool match.
It is unclear whether the center-back will recover in time for the Shrewsbury Town FA Cup game, which is now just three days away.
“Salisu is the future of this club. It will take time. We know how long it takes some players to get into the team,” Hasenhuttl said of the Ghanaian last month.
“It has a lot of potential and [at Fulham] For me it was more important, as I said, not to disturb the team. It would have been difficult, I think.
“I am very happy that Sali is here and shows me in each session that she can help.”
Salisu joined Southampton on a four-year deal, turning down the interest of French team Stade Rennais and reportedly Manchester United, Atlético de Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Last season, he played 31 games for Valladolid in the Spanish League, starting in 30 of the games and scoring one goal. It was only his first term in senior professional soccer.
Ghana has been keeping a close eye on the defender and is eager to offer him an international debut when the Black Stars meet for a double qualifying match for the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2022 against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe.
