RALPH Hasenhuttl has admitted Tino Livramento’s ACL injury could mean a change in transfer plans this summer, adding: “When he is that long out, it can end up that we have to take one.”

The 19-year-old defender, who has made 28 Premier League appearances in his debut season at Saints, is set to miss up to the rest of 2022 after the injury sustained at Brighton.

Livramento picked up ACL damage during an innocuous-looking turn on the surface and immediately heard a “crack” during the motion, before needing a stretcher and oxygen from medical staff.

Hasenhuttl has relied on three full-backs this campaign, with Kyle Walker-Peters playing a versatile role while Romain Perraud operates at left-back – after his summer arrival from France.

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Daily Echo: Saints defender Kyle Walker-Peters (Pic: Richard Crease)Saints defender Kyle Walker-Peters (Pic: Richard Crease)

And although Walker-Peters, 25, and Perraud, 24, had meant the long-term future of Saints’ defence is in good hands, Hasenhuttl concedes Saints may have to sign a new player in the upcoming window due to Livramento’s extended absence.

“This is definitely something we have to think about, yes, definitely,” the Austrian told the Daily Echo.

“When he is that long out, we need to find the right decision for the summer and it can end up that we have to take one, yes.”

Saints currently have 22-year-old Kayne Ramsay out on loan, after he spent the first-half of the season at League One Crewe Alexandra and has been playing in the Scottish Premiership for Ross County since.

Daily Echo: Kayne Ramsay at Ross County (Pic: PA)Kayne Ramsay at Ross County (Pic: PA)

In the B team, Lewis Payne has played most of the season for Dave Horseman with great success – but he will still only be 18-years-old by the start of the 2022-23 season.

“We will look on every opportunity we have,” Hasenhuttl admitted, asked about the two young defenders. “And then hopefully find the right decisions.”

It likely means that right-footed Walker-Peters’ escapades as a left-back will be put on the back-burner, for now, with he and Perraud both set to start every match hereon.

The England international has impressed on his opposite side, after being forced to play the role following Livramento’s surprise emergence.

Assessing Walker-Peters’ season, which saw him handed two caps by England manager Gareth Southgate in March, Hasenhuttl explained: “The output is not so much different, when I see the running stats it also not so much different.

Daily Echo: Kyle Walker-Peters on his England debut versus Switzerland (Pic: PA)Kyle Walker-Peters on his England debut versus Switzerland (Pic: PA)

“The strange thing is that on the left side he has more finishing actions, and on the right side he gets more assists maybe because he can cross from there.”

He continued: “The important thing for me is that he is definitely on both sides a very good player for us. He also from his mindset is open for playing on both sides.

"This is the most important thing for me and it led him to be part of the internationals – which is a massive achievement. Deserved, because he did very well this season.”

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