Southampton are back in Premier League action this weekend as they welcome Bournemouth to St Mary’s Stadium.
Saints were eliminated from the FA Cup at the semi-final stage last weekend as Chelsea defeated them 2-0 at Wembley thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata.
They now turn their attention to the final four games of the Premier League, starting with a tough test against Bournemouth.
Saints are currently four points adrift of safety and will know that nothing less than a win will do when they welcome the Cherries. Relegation is looming large for the club and it’s certainly a ‘do or die’ period.
Bournemouth have not been in overly impressive form in recent times but will be relishing the opportunity to pile yet more misery on Southampton.
Mark Hughes will be without two first-team players for the clash. Steven Davis is out with an Achilles injury, while Sofiane Boufal misses out because of disciplinary reasons. Jack Stephens returns from his three-game suspension.
Here’s how we expect Hughes to set his side up for the game against Bournemouth.
Alex McCarthy
McCarthy has been let down by his defence for months now and is still a better option than Fraser Forster.
Cedric Soares
Cedric was typically awful at Wembley last weekend but is set to retain his place at right-back.
Jan Bednarek
After playing well since coming into the starting line-up, it’d seem incredibly harsh to drop Bednarek for the returning Jack Stephens.
Maya Yoshida
Yoshida has had a pretty poor season yet he’s been the best of a bad bunch when it comes to Saints’ centre-backs.
Wesley Hoedt
Hoedt was unsurprisingly poor against Chelsea but Hughes will want to keep continuity with the five at the back. I can’t see him bringing in Stephens given his petulance leading to the suspension.
Ryan Bertrand
Bertrand is likely to make up the back five by starting on the left. He’s also set to captain the side.
James Ward-Prowse
It’d be hugely surprising to see Mario Lemina keep his place after his showing at Wembley. Ward-Prowse could be called upon.
Oriol Romeu
Romeu is set to continue in the centre of midfield and Hughes will look to him as Saints aim to take control of the game.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Hughes’ decision to take Hojbjerg off in the last two games have been peculiar. He has to start; he’s been Saints’ best player this season.
Dusan Tadic
Saints played better when Tadic was on against Chelsea. He’s had a poor season but Hughes is likely to call on him to provide the striker with some decent service.
Charlie Austin
Shane Long simply cannot retain his place after he spurned a golden chance in laughable fashion against Chelsea.
Austin is Saints’ most dangerous striker and he simply has to start. He’ll be keen to inflict some damage on Bournemouth.