Southampton learned on Monday night that they will face Arsenal and either Chorley or Wolves in the FA Cup Fourth and Fifth rounds respectively if they advance past Shrewsbury in the Third-Round.
The Fourth-Round ties are due to be played over the weekend of January 23rd, whilst Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side will make the trip to Chorley or Wolves in Round Five during the midweek of Wednesday 10th February.
However, Saints’ Third-Round clash with Shrewsbury is still to be decided and plans still remain somewhat up in the air.
The Telegraph are reporting that the Premier League meeting with Leeds could be postponed to allow the FA Cup tie to take place on Wednesday 20th January. Saints would then be back in cup action the following weekend vs Arsenal if they won.
It is a complex situation and subject to the fixtures of many teams being shifted about but Saints and Shrewsbury will be wanting a decision soon to enable them to put plans forward.
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A Covid-19 outbreak in the Shrewsbury camp saw their Third-Round trip to Saints called off and further positive tests have seen their League One fixture vs Lincoln City postponed too.
Saints wished all the Shrews players and staff well in the official statement they released last Thursday but will be keen to see the game go ahead if it can.
Both clubs have a hectic schedule ahead and this is making the setting of a rescheduled meeting difficult to arrange for all involved.
Ralph Hasenhuttl and his side face Leicester this Saturday and – as mentioned earlier – are due to play Leeds the following Wednesday.
They then face Arsenal the following Tuesday but may well have played the Gunners on the previous weekend in the cup. January is then finished with a home clash versus Aston Villa.
Shrewsbury are due to play on the 23rd, 26th and 30th too, whilst Arsenal – who have been drawn into the equation now – play on the 14th, 18th, 23rd, 26th and 30th.
Saints’ potential upcoming fixtures
Saturday 16th January: Leicester City away, Premier League, 8pm
Wednesday 20th January: Leeds United away, Premier League, 6pm//Shrewsbury Town home, FA Cup, tbc
Saturday 23rd January: Arsenal home, FA Cup, tbc
Tuesday 26th January: Arsenal home, Premier League, 8:15pm
Saturday 30th January: Aston Villa home, Premier League, 8pm
Tuesday 2nd February: Man United away, Premier League, 8pm
Saturday 6th February: Newcastle away, Premier League, 3pm
Wednesday 10th February: Chorley/Wolves away, FA Cup, tbc