Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has hinted both Moussa Djenepo and Sofiane Boufal will start against Newcastle United.
Hasenhuttl confirmed that Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong are out, but was quick to point out that he still has Boufal and Djenepo available for selection in the two wide roles.
Speaking to the Daily Echo his options out wide, Hasenhuttl said:
We have still Moussa and Sofiane who are two No.10s with different qualities, especially on the ball rather than against the ball.
They need to get more disciplined in this position because they have everything to play there.
They’re getting better and we work a lot with them and try to find the best way to teach them. You can see the development, but 90 minutes is long, and it gives you a lot of chances to stand in the wrong position, or not close gaps and not be part of the net.
His comments suggest that Djenepo and Boufal will both start against Newcastle this weekend in the two wide number 10 roles.
Southampton play a 4-2-2-2 system which allows for two roaming attacking midfielders just behind the two strikers, with Boufal and Armstrong occupying these positions against West Ham last week.
Hasenhuttl says that Boufal and Djenepo are his only options for the two spots, so it would seem as though they are both now primed to be in the starting XI on Saturday.
This could be interesting to watch, with Boufal and Djenepo both similar types of wide players. They both like to dribble with the ball and create chances through beating defenders and opening up space in wide areas to deliver crosses or take shots at goal.
Boufal and Djenepo both top the Saints squad for dribbles completed per game, out of every player to play five or more Premier League matches.
The pair average 2.6 completed dribbles per game, showing how impressive they are with the ball at their feet. If they can beat Newcastle defenders and then back it up with good deliveries into the box, they could prove pivotal this weekend.
