Scotland star suffers cruel injury setback just 26 minutes into first start in almost two years

Ross Stewart of Southampton leaves the pitch with a injury during the Premier League match against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on October 05, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Scotland striker Ross Stewart was cruelly forced off with an injury just 26 minutes into his first start for Southampton after almost two years on the sidelines.

The 28-year-old joined Saints for a fee of around £10million in the summer of 2023 after a prolific spell at Sunderland but injury restricted him to just four substitute appearances last season.

The former Ross County striker has been slowly building up his fitness at the start of this term with four outings off the bench culminating in an impressive 45 minute cameo against Bournemouth last weekend.

Saints manager Russell Martin handed Stewart his first start against Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday - and his first for any club in 615 days - but it would end in dejection as the front man pulled up in the 26th minute with a muscle injury.

Ross Stewart of Southampton leaves the pitch with a injury during the Premier League match against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on October 05, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Southampton's physios rushed onto the pitch to assess the twice-capped Scotland international but he was unable to continue and was replaced by Cameron Archer. The game was 0-0 at the time with Arsenal going on to claim a 3-1 victory.

Martin admitted afterwards he was gutted for the luckless forward, whose previous start came on January 28, 2023 when suffered an achiles rupture during Sunderland's FA Cup match against Fulham. That setback came at a time when Stewart was banging in the goals in for Sunderland, earning him the nickname, ‘The Loch Ness Drogba’, as well as call-ups to Steve Clarke’s national squad.

Saints boss Martin said: "Ross has got a muscle injury, so we'll scan that. I'm absolutely gutted for him, he's worked so hard to come back.

Ross Stewart of Southampton receives medical treatment during the Premier League match against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on October 05, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) | Getty Images

"We are honestly so disappointed for him. Everyone is. We just have to see how bad it is and then I know he'll attack it in the same way he does everything. It's hard for him to deal with but he has a huge resilience and character, so we'll have to go again and see how long he's going to be.

"I don't think any of us will understand the level of frustration, hurt and pain he'll feel right now. I just don't think it's ever easy. A footballer's journey is never easy, whatever age you are. They have to have a certain level of resilience just to make it this far.

"His journey's not been easy either, in the lower leagues and up in Scotland. So, yeah, we will help him, we will support him. Our job is to help these players, especially the young guys and the guys who have not been here long, on their journey. We'll continue to try and do that."