In Saturday’s 0-1 loss to Manchester City, midfielder Downes left the field with a limp, and Yukinari Sugawara did not have a chance to play.
Martin did not want to put his country at risk after being ineligible to start against the reigning Premier League champions.
Instead he turned to James Bree, giving the former Luton Town defender his first league appearance of the season.
Saints also had Tyler Dibling sent off at half-time, with Martin citing the teenager’s fitness as the main reason for that.
He told the Daily Echo: “It was tactical (to send off Tyler). He looked tired. We talked about it on Thursday.”
He is a young man of 18 years. For him, the level of intensity was an order of magnitude higher than anything he had ever experienced before.
“He’s playing against the best teams in Europe and it wasn’t his day at all. Defensively we needed a little more help from Adam, who knows and understands the game a little bit more.
“We also felt that Adam’s run from behind (would be helpful) because he’s one of the best players at it. We felt it could hurt them a lot. I felt it, and it happened to me several times.
Yukinari Sugawara was injured in last week’s game against Leicester City (Image: Stuart Martin) “Yuki, we could have brought him in, but the reason was we had to monitor him in training. “I just picked Breezy because I wanted him on the team just in case.”Hopefully he’ll be able to start on Tuesday.
“Flynn looks a little battered and bruised. I thought he looked great today. The Flynn we know and love is really, really back.”
“A lot of them today are playing with a spring in their step and a lot of courage, which I love.
“Taylor Harwood-Bellis was great. Kyle on the right was really great. So, yes, they have to live there now. But hopefully all three of them will be fine on Tuesday.”
Saints will also be without former Stoke City loanee Will Smallbone and Scottish forward Ross Stewart for Tuesday night’s game.
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu remains sidelined with a long-term injury, while Kamarudeen Slemana can only play 20 minutes at most.
