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Southampton: First-team players set to be fresh for Saints

By Marc Walker

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 01: Patrick Van Aanholt of Crystal Palace is challenged by Mario Lemina of Southampton during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Southampton FC at Selhurst Park on September 1, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 01: Patrick Van Aanholt of Crystal Palace is challenged by Mario Lemina of Southampton during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Southampton FC at Selhurst Park on September 1, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images) /
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The international break has been kind to Southampton this time around with a number of first-team regulars not actually playing for their respective sides.

10 players joined up with their national teams following Southampton’s 2-0 win against Crystal Palace in the Premier League two weekends ago, and Mark Hughes will have been secretly pleased with the lack of game-time for some of his squad.

Mario Lemina and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were both given permission to miss  Gabon’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burundi last Saturday to ensure their availability for this weekend’s Premier League matches.

In recent games, Lemina has been a key presence in midfield for Saints and will undoubtedly be an important player against Brighton on Monday evening.

Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy will have been disappointed to not make his England debut in the past two weeks, but he will also return to the South Coast in a fresh state to play in upcoming games.

Next. Hughes calls for intensity as international break concludes. dark

BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 07: Jack Butland and Alex McCarthy of England walk onto the pitch ahead of an England training session at St Georges Park on September 7, 2018 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 07: Jack Butland and Alex McCarthy of England walk onto the pitch ahead of an England training session at St Georges Park on September 7, 2018 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

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Jannik Vestergaard was also called-up for Denmark’s clashes with Slovakia and Wales, but the 6ft 6in Centre-Back didn’t play in either game.

After making a positive impression on the Saints defence so far, he’ll be ready and raring to go again in the coming weeks.

His defensive teammate Cedric didn’t get on the pitch for Portugal either. A friendly against Croatia and a UEFA Nations League opener against Italy saw Joao Cancelo preferred to him in the two starting line-ups.

Other players like Steven Davis, Jan Bednarek Stuart Armstrong were different in that they got much needed game-time. All of them have been out of the Saints side for the beginning of the season, and playing in the last two weeks will have given them a fitness boost.

Saints playing on Monday also gives time to recuperate. Mohamed Elyounoussi played twice for Norway in the UEFA Nations League and those extra days could see him retain his place in Mark Hughes’ starting line-up.