SAINTS boss Russell Martin wished Tony Mowbray a “speedy recovery” after news that the Birmingham City manager will step away from management for six to eight weeks to receive medical treatment.

Southampton are scheduled to face Birmingham at St Andrew’s on Saturday, March 2 in a game which will see assistant manager Mark Venus in the dugout.

Martin previously expressed that he has a “huge amount of respect” for Mowbray ahead of facing his Sunderland side earlier this season. 

Mowbray’s brother Darren currently works for Southampton as head of recruitment having joined from Scottish side Aberdeen this summer.

Speaking to the Daily Echo after the news broke, Martin said: “Tony is genuinely someone I have so much admiration and respect for with the way he has spoken to me before and after games when we have come up against each other.

“His brother Darren works here. He is a really good guy. The jobs he has done over the last few years has been amazing, but forget about him being a football manager - he is such a good guy. 

“I think a lot of people will echo those sentiments. I hope that whatever he has going on he can recover from quickly and get back to work because that will mean he has recovered well.

“Our thoughts go out to him and his family. I send him nothing but good wishes. I hope to see him healthy and happy first and foremost, but also back on the touchline very soon.”