Southampton Football Club News

• Nickname:Saints
• Founded:1885
• Manager:Nigel Adkins

• Ground:St. Mary's Stadium
• Capacity:32,551

Bale blow upsets Saints

13 Apr 2007 - 07:58:17

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Southampton's hopes of securing a play-off place have been dented by the news that Gareth Bale faces two weeks on the sidelines.

The 17-year-old left-back has been ruled out of Saturday's trip to Birmingham City and also next week's visit of Leeds United after suffering a minor tear to a calf muscle.

Bale, who was linked with a £10million move to Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal in January, is expected to return for the final two games of the campaign.

The Wales international has scored five times from free-kicks during the course of the season.

"He got a couple of whacks against Sunderland and a scan shows a small tear," Saints boss George Burley told the club's official website.