Claude Puel reveals injury updates in pre-Chelsea press conference
By Chris Hughes
Ahead of Southampton’s Tuesday night clash with league-leading Chelsea, Claude Puel has spoken to the press and delivered some positive news for Saints fans.
With Southampton having seen their weekend fixture re-arranged due to their opponents’ FA Cup commitments, manager Claude Puel gave his pre-match presser at an unfamiliar time – Monday morning.
But despite the alien hour the 55-year-old was the barer of good news, revealing that both Charlie Austin and Matt Targett would return to training this week.
He said: “Targett will come back into the training sessions, and Charlie Austin comes back into the training sessions with the group on Thursday,”
The latter was the Saints’ top scorer before his injury in December, with nine goals from just 19 appearances in all competitions.
Targett, 21, hasn’t featured at all since October due to a serious hamstring injury, having started brightly in the left-back role at the start of the campaign.
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But fans of the Saints shouldn’t expect to see their English striker rushed back into contention, with manager Puel suggesting Austin would instead feature for the reserve side before re-joining the first team:
He said: “His first training session will be on Thursday with the group and, after, it’s important that he finds again his level and all his quality.
“Perhaps he will play with the Under-23s for the last game against Manchester City. We will see if he can play this, as it will be a good opportunity for him to find again the competition.”
The Frenchman has however revealed that Sam McQueen will not make the trip to London tomorrow, with a minor injury side-lining the winger-turned-full-back for the tricky encounter.
He said: “Sam McQueen has a little problem with his groin and I think for the other players they are available for this game.”
The 22-year-old last made an appearance for the Saints against West Bromwich Albion near the start of the month, and has enjoyed a solid first season since making the transition to left-back from his original wing role.
Despite this, Southampton will be able to welcome back one of their key players from suspension, with Oriol Romeu having served his two-match ban for 10 yellow cards.
The Spaniard played for Chelsea until 2015 and has turned into arguably one of the Saints’ best players over the past two seasons.