Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl says there is a 'little bit of hope' that Tino Livramento will avoid surgery on his injured knee.
England Under-21 defender Livramento has been a star performer since his summer arrival from Chelsea but missed Saints' last two games due to a meniscus problem.
The 19-year-old, whose return date remains unknown, is being assessed on a daily basis and has not suffered any further setbacks ahead of Tuesday's Premier League clash with Brentford.
'The first steps in training now have shown no reaction from the knee,' said Hasenhuttl, whose son was sidelined for a year with a meniscus injury.