Nathan Dyer is facing three months on the sidelines, writes ADAM LEITCH.

The young winger who has nailed down his place in the first team this season, is seeing a specialist in London for a second opinion on the injured tendon in his leg.

Dyer took a whack against Leicester and Saints fear that the tendon has come away from the bone and the only way to put it right will be surgery to graft it back on.

If that does happen then Dyer, who is out of contract at the end of the season, will miss the next three months.

It is just the latest in a line of injury setbacks for Saints boss George Burley this season.

He said: "Unfortunately Nathan Dyer's still out.

"He is seeing a specialist in London for a second opinion.

"It looks as if he may need an operation which is a big blow to everybody.

"It's a massive blow really and it's not just going to be one or two weeks either - it could be up to three months.

"That's our luck, unfortunately, with injuries this season.

"His pace is so valuable. He gives us that natural width and he's had a tremendous season so far.

"He's come on leaps and bounds and really established himself in the team and got to the fringes of the England Under-21 side.

"From pre-season, he's looked confident and has matured and developed into a top class player."

Saints travel to Coventry tomorrow looking to build on seven points in their last three games and back-to-back clean sheets.

Darren Powell will be back in the squad after returning to training after his lengthy spell out with an ankle injury.

But, having not even had a reserve game, he will only be used in an emergency.