Southampton’s 23-year-old suffers frustrating injury blow just a week into Championship stint

Southampton loanee Gavin Bazunu faces six weeks out with a thigh injury, Stoke City boss Mark Robins has confirmed.

Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu saw a loan move to Stoke City sanctioned last week. The signing of Daniel Peretz had pushed the Irishman down the Saints pecking order.

Bazunu linked up with the Potters as a replacement for sidelined standout Viktor Johansson. The number one faces an extended spell out with a shoulder injury, so the new loan man made for solid cover.

However, after making his debut with a clean sheet in the goalless draw against QPR, Bazunu was absent from the squad against Middlesbrough on Wednesday night. Now, Mark Robins has confirmed the Southampton loanee faces six weeks on the sidelines with a thigh injury suffered in training.

Robins shared the blow while speaking to BBC Stoke and Staffordshire post-game. He acknowledges it leaves them “paper thin”.

Stoke City goalkeeper crisis worsens amid blow to Southampton loanee Gavin Bazunu

Losing Johansson for a long-term spell came as a big blow to Stoke City. The Sweden international is arguably the best goalkeeper in the division.

Viktor Johansson’s Stoke City stats

Moving fast to replace him with Bazunu made for smart business though. The former Manchester City prospect perhaps hasn’t kicked on as anticipated since his move to Southampton but at 23, he has plenty of time to maximise his potential and develop as many believe he can.

A Potters switch for regular game time suited all parties, but this new injury comes as a cruel blow. Bazunu returned from a long-term injury last season and would have hoped this new loan could see him gain momentum.

Who do Stoke City turn to in Bazunu and Johansson’s absence?

With Johansson sidelined and loan replacement Bazunu out, Stoke City will turn to youth.

Tommy Simkin has been progressing through the ranks in recent years with several impressive loans away from the Potters. He was recalled from a stint with Leyton Orient at the start of January, initially covering for the sidelined Swede.

Simkin dropped to the bench for Bazunu’s debut against QPR but was reinstated against Middlesbrough. Frank Fielding offered cover from the bench, and it feels likely that Robins persists with this pecking order going forward.

It marks a big opportunity for Simkin to prove his quality at Championship level. He currently has two clean sheets in three league appearances for the Potters.

Simkin will likely start once more as they look to bounce back from midweek defeat this weekend. Stoke City head to Birmingham City, who won 2-0 against Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday night thanks to goals from strikers Marvin Ducksch and Kyogo Furuhashi.