Nigerian junior international, Isaac Success, is a major doubt for the big kick-off at Southampton on Saturday, confirmed head coach, Walter Mazzarri, on Wednesday.
Success, 20, was the brightest spark on show against Lorient after coming off the bench to replace Craig Cathcart, showing the type of pace and power that prompted Watford to double their record transfer fee to bring him from Granada.
“No,” Mazzarri said when we asked him if the forward is fit. “Unfortunately, he is the only one from the weekend who has a problem.”
Success’ absence with a leg muscle problem limits Mazzarri’s options in attack and probably rules out the 3-4-3 formation at St Mary’s. Heurelho Gomes, Miguel Britos, Jose Holebas, Etienne Capoue, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney are all certain starters on Saturday.
Mazzarri says he knows more of his starting XI than that.
“Honestly, I have one or two doubts [about certain positions] but don’t ask me which,” he said.