Southampton to give Tino Livramento all support required – James Ward-Prowse

James Ward-Prowse says Southampton’s players will give Tino Livramento all the support required to return “bigger, better and stronger” from his horror knee injury.

England Under-21 defender Livramento received oxygen and was carried off on a stretcher after collapsing to the ground in the first half of Sunday’s 2-2 Premier League draw at Brighton.

Saints are still waiting to discover the full extent of the problem, which manager Ralph Hasenhuttl described as appearing “very, very serious”.

Captain Ward-Prowse salvaged a point with a long-range double after the visitors had fallen 2-0 behind at the Amex Stadium and dedicated the equaliser to his stricken team-mate by making a T sign with his fingers.

“I think everybody was a little bit shook up and shocked from what we saw,” Ward-Prowse told the club website.

“Of course we don’t know the extent of the injury at the moment but I think that moment spurred us on in the game and we wanted to get back in the game for him.

“When he joined the club in his first few weeks, he didn’t say a single word to anyone and I was thinking, ‘oh, come on’. But he’s really come out of his shell.

“His performances have excelled everybody’s expectations, I think.

“It’s a real big shame but it’s up to us now to get behind him and support him and give him everything he needs to come back bigger, better and stronger.”

Danny Welbeck’s second-minute finish and a calamitous own goal from Mohammed Salisu looked set to condemn Southampton to a sixth defeat in eight league games.

The premature departure of former Chelsea academy player Livramento – after he twisted awkwardly while attempting to challenge Seagulls midfielder Enock Mwepu – came between those two goals.

Ward-Prowse halved the deficit from