Southampton were hoping to have Armando Broja back in the squad for the game against Aston Villa on Friday evening, but if the latest pictures from training are anything to go by, then the Albanian from Slough will not feature in this game.

Saints published pictures from their Tuesday training session at Staplewood on their website with 69 pictures showing virtually all the members of the squad, however one absentee was Armando Broja and it looks like he will miss the game against Villa on Friday.

Broja limped off against Burnley and it seems is yet to return to training with the squad, that does not mean that he is not doing fitness work as well as receiving treatment with the physios, but he isn't taking part in the full work.

Given that the pictures are taken from the Tuesday session and that there were still 3 full days before the game on Friday evening it doesn't rule him out quite yet, but with an ankle injury it is a difficult one as the joint is at the heart of all of the physical work on a football pitch, running, twisting and turning as well as the impact from tackles, it is the ankle that takes the most battering in a game of football.

There is still time for him to return to the squad and feature against Villa, but it is looking more likely that even if he does pass muster, he will start from the bench, with a two week break after the game on Friday, Saints will probably prefer to hold him back to ensure he is fit for the game against Norwich City after the international break.

But in his absence at both Chelsea and Watford, Che Adams and Adam Armstrong showed they are forming a good partnership that is complimentary to their styles of place, up at Vicarage Road the Armstrong with an A had a lively game and worked well off the ball and also in getting it and creating chances for himself and others including Adams.

Ralph Hasenhuttl like everyone else knows that Armstrong needs a goal, but he wasn't far away at Watford and when it comes it could open the floodgates, for Saints fans if he can do that against Aston Villa in the presence of his predecessor Danny Ings then it would be a great moment to show the fans that he is the man to take over our former local hero's mantle.

Photo: Action Images

underweststand added 10:21 - Nov 3 As everyone else, I have been impressed by Broja's performances considering his youth and minimal experience at the top level. It was obvious that (being seen as such a threat) opposition defenders will deal out the odd "ankle-tap "or, " boot-on-the-foot" treatment and that injuries would inevitably follow. Most people agree that it is not good to rush injured players back, especially those who lacked 100% fitness to start with. Ralph had underlined this earlier in the season, and aside from coming on as a sub. Broja has yet to complete a 90 minute game, I think we should wait until he is back "fully-fit ". Whilst I am looking forward to seeing Broja play again, it really is the ideal opportunity for our two " A-men " to work further on their strike partnership and start getting goals -especially as they both cost the club a decent sum to buy, and the long, or short term future of Broja with Saints appears to be in doubt, and is the topic of anxious conversation amongst fans of both clubs.

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SonicBoom added 11:01 - Nov 3 Or they hooked out any pictures featuring Broja so that Villa won't know whether he is going to be playing or not.....
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HythePeer added 11:42 - Nov 3 The manager's playing style will continue to cause excessive injuries as last season.
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KriSaint added 15:02 - Nov 3 Bad for Broja who has done very well (and thanx a lot to him for that) but also an important as well as a deserved chance for A & A to keep their places up front. It will be interesting to see if Douglas Luiz has time enough to recover from Covid ( I severely doubt that) and whether Ings will be fit to play. It must be a good time to play Villa, who have lost 4 in a row, and their captain and left CB - Mings - was dropped for the West Ham game meaning there's probably a little turmoil/confusion going on there... Also I have noticed that good old Matt Targett has been involved in at least 3 out of the last 6 Villa goals conceded, which could mean that he is low on confidence which is a good thing for Saints - and Tino "lungbusting runs" Livramento in particular. Also, Villa are of course without probably their best CB, Konsa, who is suspended. On paper we have a good chance here, and it's important for me to keep Villa behind us in the table, because they splashed the cash and made Ings take a, in my opinion, questionable sidestep away from us, which has probably ended his England career in my opinion. COYS <3

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inthebox added 20:45 - Nov 3 The manager's playing style will continue to cause excessive injuries as last season. I haven't a clue what this statement suppose to mean unless it's just another excuse to have a dig at the manager.
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Ronnie added 10:10 - Nov 4 Armando is visible on a number of the 50 pictures posted on the website for the latest training session for the Villa match, so Ralf could have an attacking selection problem!
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TimSaint added 11:44 - Nov 4 Didn't people make the same assumption about Stu Armstrong against Watford. He wasn't in the training photos, so he was injured or had fallen out with the manager again - only for him to come off the bench and play 20 odd mins. Let's see what team is announced an hour before kick off !!
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