Jose Fonte has been taken to hospital for tests after sustaining a head injury that forced him off the pitch as Saints drew 1-1 with Everton.

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The Saints skipper was clattered by a heavy challenge from behind by Arouna Kone in the first half at Goodison Park.

He tried to continue on but had to be substituted seven minutes before half time as he came off nursing his head.

Fonte has been taken to hospital in Liverpool for tests, and will travel back separately from the rest of the team, regardless of the results.

Saints boss Ronald Koeman confirmed: “Jose is away to the hospital.

“It is his head and of course we have to wait about the results what they will do in the hospital.

“They are to the hospital and normally they come back in the car and not in the plane.”

Aside from his concern for Fonte, Koeman’s major emotion after the 1-1 draw was one of frustration.

He started with a very attacking line-up against an under strength Everton side and it paid dividends in so far as his team dominated and created ample chances to win the game.

However, they ended up taking just a point.

He reflected: “Disappointed about the final result.

“Of course, if you are 1-0 down in the second half and you get one point out of it that’s positive, but it was not what we like to have.

“It was difficult and it was not sharp enough in the whole total team performance.

“I was disappointed after 45 minutes that we didn’t create more, that we didn’t score the goal, because in my opinion there were a lot of opportunities.

“It was not good enough in the final pass, and not enough shots on target and then it’s difficult to score the goal.

“It’s a very offensive system, but with the four strikers then you need to make a difference.”