Adkins feels for Cork

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins has sympathised with midfielder Jack Cork after he suffered another injury setback.

Cork was making his first appearance of the campaign on Tuesday in the League Cup against Sheffield Wednesday following an ankle problem he picked up against Bristol City in pre-season.

He could not complete 90 minutes, however, as he limped off with a damaged knee which could see him out for up to six weeks.

“It has been stop start for him,” Adkins told Sky Sports.

“It is a good place at Southampton so we’ll keep his spirits up, he’ll work harder and then when he comes back he will be raring to go.”

Cork played for Team GB at the Olympics in the domestic league’s off-season, and has not had the benefit of a proper pre-season with the club, but former physio Adkins has backed the former Chelsea youth player to come back stronger.

“Obviously he has been away with GB through pre-season so he has not had a pre-season with ourselves,” he said.

“He comes back, he didn’t play any games really and he picks up an injury at Bristol City. He recovers from that and he has gone and picked up another injury. What it will do is make him stronger.

“He is going to be in a brace for a couple of weeks. Who knows if four to six weeks is going to be realistic?

“I know the diagnosis of it with the history I’ve got and the experience I’ve got of these injuries. We’ve got a good idea of what it is going to be.”