Southampton head coach Ralph Hasenhuttl has revealed that full-back Tino Livramento may require surgery on a knee injury.
The 19-year-old has not played for the Saints since the Boxing Day win at West Ham United, and missed Saturday's 3-2 extra-time victory against Swansea City in the FA Cup third round.
Speaking to the press after their win behind closed doors in Wales, Hasenhuttl stated that he is unsure how long the teenager could be ruled out for and is 'alarmed' that the club's medical team "don't want to speak" to him.
"The meniscus injury, even if it is a light one... I know this from my own son, it was a year out," Hasenhuttl said in his post-match interview.
"We don't know. At the moment we try it without surgery, but we have to look how serious it is. It is always an alarm for me when they (medical team) don't want to speak.
"It is not good when they are not coming to me. But I will go to them every day to ask them."
When asked about the possibility of club captain James Ward-Prowse filling in at right-back for their Premier League clash against Brentford on Tuesday, Hasenhuttl said: "I will ask my captain what he says".
Since moving to St Mary's from Chelsea for around £5m in the summer, Livramento has starred for Southampton, making 18 Premier League appearances.