New Southampton player twist emerges ahead of Portsmouth | OneFootball

Southampton goalkeeper Daniel Peretz is a doubt to face Portsmouth on Sunday.

With the end of the international break on the horizon, Southampton and Portsmouth are set to renew pleasantries in the pick of Championship action this Sunday.

Nothing could separate the South Coast sides when they met last term, but given all that has transpired at St Mary's Stadium since, this clash will have some extra spice, as if it needed any.

Both clubs have had players away on international duty during the international duty and would have been hoping that their stars would return with a clean bill of health.

However, Saints goalkeeper Daniel Peretz has pulled out of Israel's squad with a small groin issue and is a doubt for the South Coast derby, according to Israeli outlet Sport5.

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Peretz played the full 90 minutes in Israel's Nations League Group B matches against Austria and the Republic of Ireland as his nation were well beaten in both.

However, the 26-year-old was an unused substitute in his country's goalless draw with Kosovo on Thursday night, with Sport5 revealing he suffered a groin tear ahead of the game.

The publication reports that the goalkeeper is expected to be out for 10 days and is not only a doubt to face Portsmouth, but also Norwich City and Bolton Wanderers in the coming week.

Peretz has played every single minute of Saints action this season in the second tier and the Carabao Cup, with his only clean sheet coming against Colchester United.

Who could replace Daniel Peretz between the Southampton sticks?

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The news of Peretz' injury is a significant blow for Tonda Eckert, who would have loved to have a full-strength side to face the old foe, but such is the risk of the international break.

George Long has featured on the bench in every single one of Saints' Championship matches so far this term and the 32-year-old's only appearance for the South Coast side came in last season's FA Cup fourth round victory over Leicester City.

However, there could be a stellar storyline brewing as Aaron Ramsdale, who is Saints' fourth choice keeper, could be called upon for such an important clash.

Ramsdale spent last season on loan with Newcastle United, where he made 23 appearances in all competitions, including 12 in the Premier League and four in the Champions League.

It was expected that the 28-year-old would depart St Mary's over the summer, but he has since remained and has only featured for the club's under-21s.

Eckert spoke of his commitment to Peretz and Long after the transfer window closed, and it will be intriguing to see if he changes his stance after developments regarding his number one.

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There has been plenty of fan reaction to the Peretz news and there is an overwhelming choice to replace the Israeli on Sunday, with many wanting Aaron Ramsdale in from the start despite his exile.

Another fan has backed England international stopper Ramsdale for the start.

Another vote for Ramsdale.

And one supporter thinks that George Long simply cannot be selected over a more experienced, top level stopper for such an important match.

It will be interesting to see who Eckert ends up selecting for the contest, and it may be a case of swallowing some pride and allowing Ramsdale back into the fold for a short period of time.