Southampton vs Newcastle: Predicted line-ups for Premier League clash

Southampton head back to home turf this evening and will look to maintain their strong form whilst contending with a number of injuries.

An entertaining 4-3 win over Aston Villa last time out saw Saints put in another good performance, but the three points looked to come at a cost.

Star man Danny Ings was taken off with a knee injury that Saints have since discovered will need surgery – keeping a vital part of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side out for 4-6 weeks.

Ryan Bertrand and Jan Bednarek were also forced off with a hamstring issue and slight concussion respectively.

Add to that further fitness problems picked up by Ibrahima Diallo, Mohammed Salisu, Jake Vokins and Will Smallbone and Saints could be forced to name a number of youngsters on the bench tonight.

Newcastle, on the other hand, are boosted by players returning to training and the same squad being available to Steve Bruce as they make the trip south to St Mary’s.

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Matty Longstaff, Paul Dummett and Ciaran Clark could be in contention for minutes on the pitch after returning from injuries, although the Magpies could go unchanged from their 2-1 win over Everton last time out.

For Saints, it will be all about trying to keep some sort of consistency in their line up despite inevitable changes.

Two senior left-backs being injured is likely to mean Kyle Walker-Peters filling in on the other side of defence, with Yan Valery taking his right-back role.

Ings’ absence will provide an opportunity for Theo Walcott, Shane Long or Michael Obafemi to start alongside Che Adams too as the new forward line look to fill the goalscoring void.

Predicted Saints team

Alex McCarthy; Yan Valery, Jack Stephens, Jannik Vestergaard, Kyle Walker-Peters; Oriol Romeu, James Ward-Prowse, Stuart Armstrong, Nathan Redmond; Theo Walcott, Che Adams

Predicted Newcastle team

Karl Darlow; Josh Murphy, Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles, Federico Fernandez, Jamal Lewis; Isaac Hayden, Jeff Hendrick, Ryan Fraser, Allan Saint-Maximin, Callum Wilson