Thursday 30 April 2015 18:01, UK
Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin will not play again this season due to a knee injury, manager Ronald Koeman has confirmed.
The midfielder, who was linked with a move away from St Mary’s last summer, has been a pivotal figure for Southampton this term.
Southampton have a 54 per cent win rate with Schneiderlin in their side compared to 38 per cent when he has not featured and Saints average half a point less per game without the Frenchman in their side.
The former Strasbourg midfielder has featured in 30 games in all competitions this season but has suffered a knee ligament injury, ruling him out of games against Sunderland, Leicester, Aston Villa and Manchester City.
“Morgan will be out till the end of the season,” Koeman said ahead of his side’s visit to Sunderland. "He is a key player, so it is disappointing.
“He has a ligament injury in his left knee and he will be out for four or five weeks and that means until the end of the season.”
Despite the prognosis, Schneiderlin remains determined to play again ahead of Saints' final match at Manchester City on May 24.
He said on Twitter: "Sad about my injury .. I am not giving up on coming back before the end of the season ! Thanks to everyone for their support !"
Koeman was also asked whether or not he thought Schneiderlin may have played his last game for the club, and replied: “I don’t know about interest or bids.
"We’d like to keep everybody but we know sometimes it’s difficult. There isn’t a serious bid for any player.”
Koeman then responded to a question about whether the France international wanted to remain at the club beyond next season.
“He is happy,” Koeman said. “But it is up to the player.”
The Southampton manager also confirmed midfielder Dusan Tadic would miss the trip to the north east, hinting the Serb also may not feature again this term.
Koeman said: "He is struggling with some groin problems for a long time and we decide now to put him out of the team because he has to recover and be 100 per cent and, if not, he will struggle next season and we don't want that."
