Southampton are set to be without two injured players for their Premier League game with Manchester City. Highly-rated defender Tino Livarmento (knee) is set to return to training sooner than expected.
However, both he and Will Smallbone (calf) are not fit enough to face Pep Guardiola and his star-studded group. City are 11 points clear at the Premier League summit as they prepare for a trip to St Mary's Stadium (5.30pm).
Nearest challengers Liverpool do have a game in hand on the table-toppers - but Guardiola and his men have won 12 straight matches and appear in formidable form.
As for Southampton, meanwhile, they have taken seven points from a possible 12 in their last four outings. Ralph Hasenhuttl and his team were comfortably beaten last time out against Wolves, though, as Raul Jimenez, Conor Coady and Tottenham-linked Adama Traore did the damage.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk