With a few minor knocks and a busy schedule Saints could really do with Jose Fonte against Norwich on Wednesday night, but the question is does he want to play ?
Claude Puel's position on Jose Fonte has changed a little in the past few weeks suggesting that the reason that the Saints Captain is not featuring is not the club's choice but that Fonte whilst not refusing to play does not feel able to do so at present.
In short his head is not in the right place at present.
This is of course the excuse of the modern day footballer, in times gone by players were truly professionals, they knew they were well paid and appreciated that fact and that being the case they turned out for their clubs whatever other turmoil was going on in their lives.
Can you imagine the average worker going into their bosses office and saying that the company down the road had offered to give him a big pay rise and that his head wasnt in the right place and so would need a week or two off on full pay whilst he mulled it over.
No neither can I and that perhaps shows just how precocious professional footballers are these days.
Puel's position and that of the club was that they were expecting Fonte to be able to play when required and put in a professional performance.
That stance has changed with Puel now having stated that Fonte would not be considered till the end of the transfer window if he was still at the club at the close of it.
This is suggesting that the manager does not trust Fonte to be able to give 100% to Southampton Football Club and earn his very high wages, wages that over the past 7 years have made him a very rich man.
But now Saints are in a predicament, although Fonte may not care to help the club in it's quest to reach Wembley, a strange situation for a player that seemingly wants more glory having had a taste of it in the summer, Saints need all hands to the pump with their injury predicament.
So should they name Fonte in the line up ?
The first big question is whether he actually wants to play, to the average fan it looks like he doesn't, after all surely he would want to help his team mates out. If he does not want to play then Puel would be better to leave him out.
The second question is should he be forced to play ? at the moment it seems like Saints are treating him with kid gloves, they are not forcing the situation, they are leaving the door open although you sense that they are seething. Playing him could affect team morale and that is the big risk.
So what do Saints fans think, should Jose Fonte play against Norwich City whether he wants to or not ?
Vote now and give your comments using the link to the poll below.
http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/forum/187837/should-jose-fonte