Southampton manager Mark Hughes has been left to sweat over the condition of striking duo Charlie Austin and Shane Long ahead of his side’s encounter with Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday night.

Saints boss Hughes addressed the media ahead of the clash at St Mary’s next week and, as quoted by the club’s official website, delivered some concerning injury news regarding Austin and Long.

We have concerns with Shane Long and Charlie Austin, who haven’t trained this week, but we’re hoping to have them back over the weekend.

Austin has been in and out of the team throughout the early stages of the season and only made a substitute appearance against Palace, appearing to come through the fixture unscathed.

However, Hughes alluded to a hamstring injury that the striker has been nursing, with fitness checks over the weekend to take place.

Long, meanwhile, was forced off in the win against Palace before the international break. A toe problem meant that he was forced to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad, with a niggle still seemingly affecting him.

In-form Southampton striker Danny Ings is seemingly edging closer to full fitness after getting over the worst from a foot blister. However, Hughes remained coy over his condition.