Saints could have three back from injury and available to face Arsenal on Sunday to boost Ralph Hasenhuttl's chances of a first win in charge.
Ralph Hasenhuttl has been putting his squad through six days of intensive training ahead of the clash with Arsenal and although it is early days to improve the fitness levels, that will take a week or two, he has been boosted by the possible return of three players who were not available to him at Cardiff.
The good news is that one of those is Danny Ings and he is joined by Shane Long, some are not appreciative of Long who has now been out for almost six weeks, but prior to his injury he looked the best partner for Ings working well with him for our win up at Crystal Palace as well as being instrumental in helping create two great late chances at Bournemouth both of which were sadly spurned.
Both Ings and Long will suit the Austrian managers style of play although he may feel it better to hold them back a little and keep them fit for the trip to Huddersfield.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's game Hassenhuttl said.
"We have good news, we have a few players coming back this week and they are Danny Ings, Shane Long and Cédric. "
"They trained twice this week with the team, first as a smaller group at the beginning and they were able to join up with the whole squad today. None of them have had any problems after that.”
The only possible absentee to join Ryan Bertrand on the sidelines is Jack Stephens who sustained a knock to the knee in Friday’s training session at Staplewood.
"The bad news is that Jack Stephens has had a problem with his knees after a collision; we can’t say how bad it is or not for now but I hope it is not too serious for him.”