Shane Long looks likely to step straight back into the side after missing the Sunderland game with a minor knee injury.
Shane Long is set to give Saints a boost for the trip to Stoke City with the news that he has recovered from his knee injury.
Long will almost certainly be straight back into the starting line up being the in form Saints striker over the past three months.
The question will be who will go out from the side to accommodate him ?
That looks likely to be Sadio Mane who continued his goal drought against Sunderland.
Graziano Pelle looks favourite to lead the line alongside Long, although he too has not scored since November, the reality is that for most of that time he has been sidelined with an injury, when he has played alongside Long recently it has reaped its rewards, most notably against West Ham and Swansea.
On Saturday against Sunderland Pelle came in for some criticism, but tat was shortsighted, he received little service and had no one to play offg him, however when he did get the ball played into him in injury time, he played a big part in the start of the move that lead to the Saints equaliser and it is this that will perhaps earn him the nod again up front.