Southampton striker Charlie Austin will be out for three or four months with a dislocated shoulder, manager Claude Puel has confirmed.
Austin, 27, was substituted in the first half of Thursday night's 1-1 draw with Hapoel Be'er Sheva at St Mary's Stadium, which ended the Saints' hopes of progress through to the knockout stage.
Claude Puel has confirmed in his post-match interview that #SaintsFC's @chazaustin10 could be out for between three and four months. pic.twitter.com/Tf1RXOfQ1K
- Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 11, 2016
"Normally he needs surgery and will be perhaps between three months and four months [out]," Puel told a news conference following Southampton's 1-0 Premier League win against Middlesbrough on Sunday.
"It's a good estimation for the time after the surgery. Is it dislocated? Yes I think. Will it need surgery? Yes, normally yes."
The former Queens Park Rangers and Burnley player has scored six goals in 13 Premier League appearances so far this season.