CONCERN is growing over the health and fitness of Saints defender Mohammed Salisu after he was removed from contention for Ghana's second match of the current international break.

Salisu recently missed Saints' games against Chelsea and Leeds United with a minor injury but returned to play 83 minutes of his side's 3-3 draw with Spurs before the international break.

And that was enough to see the 23-year-old chosen by Chris Hughton for Ghana's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers home and away against Angola. 

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But shortly before the first of those two clashes - which Ghana won 1-0 - Salisu was deemed an unlikely participant with former Norwich City boss Hughton saying: “Our only injury concern is Salisu. He’s a doubt for the game because he’s suffered some recent injuries at his club."

Ghana have now travelled to Luanda, Angola, for the return fixture but Salisu has not joined the rest of his team for the journey.

The Ghana Football Association announced: “Other players who didn’t make the trip include Alexander Djiku, Mohammed Salisu and Denis Odoi. The trio were left out of the travelling party due to injuries. The Ghana Football Association wishes them a speedy recovery.”

Saints have six days to prepare for a potentially decisive away trip to relegation-rivals West Ham United on Sunday.

With Armel Bella-Kotchap likely to miss time due to a reoccurence of the shoulder dislocation he suffered earlier in the season, Saints will be desperate to have Salisu fit and ready for the conclusion of the relegation battle.