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Southampton: Team news and predicted line-up for Man United clash

By Marc Walker

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: John McGinn of Aston Villa is challenged by Alex Jankewitz of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton and Aston Villa at St Mary's Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Southampton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: John McGinn of Aston Villa is challenged by Alex Jankewitz of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton and Aston Villa at St Mary's Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Southampton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) /
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Southampton head to Old Trafford on Tuesday evening and will be looking to put a bad run of form to bed against a talented Manchester United side.

Last time out, Saints gave all they had to get a result against Aston Villa but ended up losing by a narrow 1-0 scoreline – Ross Barkley’s goal proving the difference as Saints were denied a penalty and narrow offside goal by VAR.

That effort came at a cost though. Theo Walcott, Ibrahima Diallo and Oriol Romeu were all taken off with second-half injuries to further limit the options available to Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Manchester United have had setbacks themselves recently with a loss to Sheffield United and a goalless draw with Arsenal, although Saints can top that with three straight defeats in the Premier League.

Ibrahima Diallo and Ralph Hasenhuttl of Southampton (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
Ibrahima Diallo and Ralph Hasenhuttl of Southampton (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images) /

Saints squad stretched ahead of United game

Ahead of their trip tomorrow, Saints will be without no less than nine first-team players.

Romeu, Walcott and Diallo are all unavailable and are joined on the sidelines by Kyle Walker-Peters, Jannik Vestergaard, Mohammed Salisu, Nathan Tella, Michael Obafemi and Will Smallbone.

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Via information from Hampshire Live reporter Tom Leach, Vestergaard, Walker-Peters and Salisu are classed as short-term absentees and are set to return to training in the next two weeks.

Saints’ team selection for tomorrow also depends on transfer movements in the final few hours of the January window.

At the time of writing, full-back Yan Valery is still waiting on a potential loan move to Birmingham City. This is likely to happen if Saints manage to sign a defender before the 11pm deadline, although Valery’s potential replacement will not have arrived in time to face United.

Manchester United will have a full fit squad to face Saints after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed his players had got through their draw with Arsenal unscathed.

Scott McTominay is expected to be available after suffering with stomach cramps at the weekend, whilst defender Phil Jones is the Red Devils’ only long-term absentee.

Predicted Saints line-up

With Valery available: Alex McCarthy; Yan Valery, Jack Stephens, Jan Bednarek, Ryan Bertrand; James Ward-Prowse, Alex Jankewitz; Stuart Armstrong, Nathan Redmond; Danny Ings, Che Adams

Without Valery available: Alex McCarthy; James Ward-Prowse, Jack Stephens, Jan Bednarek, Ryan Bertrand; Stuart Armstrong, Alex Jankewitz; Moussa Djenepo, Nathan Redmond; Danny Ings, Che Adams

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