Southamptonvs.Bournemouth

Defenders Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jack Stephens both remain sidelined with respective ankle and calf injuries, although Ivan Juric has confirmed that the latter is set to return to training next week.

Ross Stewart (calf), Juan Larios and Ryan Fraser (both unspecified) are also in the treatment room, while Adam Lallana (hamstring) and Flynn Downes (knock) are both doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Juric named a relatively strong side for last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Burnley in the FA Cup fourth round, but he is expected to recall a few first-team regulars on Saturday, including goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale at the expense of Alex McCarthy.

Nathan Wood has recently recovered from injury and could be fit to start in the back three alongside Jan Bednarek and James Bree, while Kyle Walker-Peters, Ryan Manning, Welington and Yukinari Sugawara will all battle for starts at wing-back.

A midfield triumvirate of Joe Aribo, Lesley Ugochukwu and Mateus Fernandes could remain intact, while Juric will weigh up whether to start target man Paul Onuachu up front, or continue with Tyler Dibling and Kamaldeen Sulemana as centre-forwards. New signing Albert Gronbaek is also in contention to start.

Southampton possible starting lineup: Ramsdale; Bree, Bednarek, Wood; Walker-Peters, Aribo, Ugochukwu, Welington; Fernandes, Dibling; Onuachu

Written by

Oliver Thomas