Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has explained the long wait for Mohammed Salisu to make his debut for the club.
The centre-half has not played for the Premier League side so far this term.
He signed from Valladolid in the summer. But Hasenhuttl is hopeful he will be available soon.
He told reporters: "Some bigger issues we had with him. These issues will last a little bit longer.
"It's an older thing and for this we will have to take care of him. But he is coming back.
"It maybe takes one more week and then he is able to play. We gave him all the time he needed to solve these issues.
"We knew it wasn't a short-term project, it was a long-term project. For sure, he will help us in the future."