Southampton: Long and Elyounoussi gain positive results

Southampton forwards Shane Long and Mohamed Elyounoussi played their part as the Republic of Ireland and Norway gained positive results in the UEFA Nations League last night.

The attacking duo are one of 14 Southampton players out on international duty for their nations and both played the majority of their opening games.

Long was on the pitch for 83 minutes of Ireland’s 0-0 draw with Denmark before being replaced by Millwall’s Aiden O’Brien. The draw gave Martin O’Neill’s side their first point in the Nations League Group B4, but they may face an uphill struggle to avoid demotion.

Both Jannik Vestergaard and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could have played against Long in Dublin, but they would remain as unused substitutes for the evening.

Elyounoussi would go one better than his Saints teammates as he and Norway triumphed 1-0 over Slovenia in Group C3 to move onto six points from three matches.

dark. Next. Huge changes to Saints' Christmas schedule

DUBLIN, IRELAND – OCTOBER 13: Richard Keough and Shane Long of Ireland compete for a header during the UEFA Nations League B group four match between Ireland and Denmark at Aviva Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /

More from Saints Marching

The 24-year-old played 93 minutes of the clash and saw Saint-Etienne midfielder Ole Selnaes net the winning goal on the stroke of half-time.

Long and Elyounoussi are key players for their national sides and got good minutes under their belts here. Both overcame ankle injuries to be fully involved, with a curious training ground incident back at Saints being the cause of the latter’s problem.

Saints boss Mark Hughes will have been pleased to see them both come through both games as they have both been regular starters for him in the Premier League so far.

A further test for each will come in the next week however. Norway face Group C3 leaders Bulgaria, whilst Ireland host Ryan Giggs’ Wales.

Further international representation is set to come this evening for Saints players with Cedric, Stuart Armstrong and Jan Bednarek potentially involved.

Armstrong’s Scotland host Cedric and Portugal at Hampden Park, whilst Bednarek comes up against Italy with Poland.

Home/Southampton FC News