Southampton look to get back to winning ways as they travel to face Leicester City on Tuesday evening.
It does not get much tougher than a trip to the league leaders, especially after a particularly damaging 2-1 defeat against Cardiff City on Saturday.
Southampton have five points to make up on second-placed Ipswich Town with three Championship games left. The more likely outcome this season is a spot in the play-offs.
However, Southampton cannot afford to throw in the towel and would regret giving up should the teams above them drop points.
That is not beyond the realms of possibility, with Leicester, Ipswich and Leeds United all faltering recently. Leicester returned to winning ways on Saturday, though, as they beat Southampton’s fellow play-off dwellers, West Brom, 2-1.
Enzo Maresca’s side know that a win at home to Southampton keeps them firmly in pole position to not only secure promotion but win the Championship title this season, so it is down to Russell Martin‘s side to spoil the party.
Southampton team news v Leicester
The injuries are stacking up for Southampton.
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu is expected to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines with the achilles injury he sustained in the warm-up for the win over Preston last week.
Flynn Downes missed the trip to Cardiff on Saturday with a knock sustained against Preston and Martin told the media on Monday that they will have to “wait and see” whether Downes can feature.
With the play-offs in mind, if there is any risk associated with playing Downes on Tuesday then Martin is likely to avoid doing so.
Ryan Manning came off at half-time against Cardiff but should ready for this one, with Southampton reporter Alfie House confirming that Martin said: “He (Manning) got a kick and he couldn’t carry on. His foot went a bit numb, but he said he started to feel it again 15, 20 minutes into the second half, so he’ll be all right.”
Martin also confirmed that Stuart Armstrong‘s club season is over, but he could potentially make the Scotland squad for the European Championships in the summer with the injury not as bad as first feared.
Armstrong is out of contract in the summer so it remains to be seen if the 32-year-old has played his last game for the club.
Juan Larios remains a long-term absentee and will not feature this season, whilst Ross Stewart continues his recovery with an eye on being able to feature should Southampton end up in the play-offs.
Sekou Mara will serve the last of his three game ban for an off the ball incident against Watford.
Southampton predicted XI v Leicester
Alex McCarthy was surprisingly the goalkeeper trusted at short-notice against Preston depsite not being named in the match day squad and will continue ahead of the unfortunate Joe Lumley.
Manning may not be risked following the knock sustained at the weekend, so the back four should have Kyle Walker-Peters and James Bree in the full-back roles.
Jan Bednarek put in a good display against Cardiff despite defeat and should partner Taylor Harwood-Bellis once more, although Martin may be tempted to bring captain Jack Stephens back into the side.
Shea Charles was inexplicably overlooked as the man to replace the injured Downes in the starting line-up on Saturday despite Martin calling him “brilliant” after an impressive performance off the bench against Preston.
Will Smallbone instead operated as the deepest midfielder in Cardiff but should move into Stuart Armstrong’s more attacking spot, allowing Charles to play the number six role if Downes is rested.
Joe Aribo is a man in form and will continue in the midfield three.
Martin may want to freshen up his frontline, with Adam Armstrong, Che Adams and David Brooks starting the last four games in a row.
The Southampton boss hinted at giving minutes to players who have been on the periphery recently in his press conference and this could perhaps open the door for either Ryan Fraser or Samuel Edozie to come into the attack.
If Martin is minded to give anyone a rest it may well be Adam Armstrong who has started all but one game this season.
Adams is on a good run of form despite having an off day against Cardiff and shouldn’t have his momentum disrupted, but Brooks could perhaps also benefit from a rest.
Therefore, do not be surprised to see the Welshman be the one to drop out of the attacking trio on Tuesday night.
With all of that in mind, here is how we predicted Southampton will line up against Leicester on Tuesday evening.
Southampton XI (4-3-3): McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Bree; Charles, Aribo, Smallbone; A. Armstrong, Adams, Edozie