Mauricio Pellegrino will once again field a strong side for the FA Cup game against West Bromwich Albion, in what will be the second trip to the Hawthorns in a fortnight.
Mauricio Pellegrino has revealed that he will once again be putting out a strong side in the FA Cup, although he does have an injury problem that will hamper his thinking.
Shane Long has picked up a hamstring injury so is unlikely to be risked, but apart from that and long term caualty Charlie Austin, Pellegrino has a full squad to choose from as he said in the pre match press conference, although he did add a little codacil that he might try something different.
"Maybe Shane will have problems to be ready for this game, It's his hamstring, it's a little bit tight, but we will decide on Friday."
"Shane and Charlie are the only two players who are outside of the group right now."
"We have an amazing opportunity in the FA Cup to move forward,"
"We want to use this competition for many reasons, to try to put some players who didn't play too much, to try to improve as a team, and also because we want to go forward."
"I will prepare the game to try to win. If I give the opportunity to somebody it is because I feel that he is really well prepared and deserves to be there on the pitch."
"I will not give anything for free. I want to put out the players who I feel will represent our club in the best way."
But it is the statement below that is a little puzzling.
IF I GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SOMEBODY IT IS BECAUSE I FEEL HE IS REALLY WELL PREPARED AND DESERVES TO BE ON THE PITCH.
Surely that should be the case at all times and it hints that although he might well play the core of the team, that he might try something a little different and that we could see one of the younger players given a chance.
Saints fans want to have a bit of good news, the wins in the first two games of the competition have given a little momentum and the opportunity to gain confidence through an unbeaten run that culminated in the win at the Hawthorns two weeks ago, meeting Liverpool last week was possibly the wrong game at the wrong time, but Saints were never going to go the rest of the season unbeaten and therefore have to put that defeat behind them and start a run again, this game is an ideal opportunity to do so.