A real footballing battle is on the cards in east Lancashire tomorrow as Burnley strive to get back to winning ways and Mauricio PellegrinoÂ’s Saints desperately seek three vital points to assuage their relegation fears
Sean DycheÂ’s ten game winless streak means that only ten points now separate 18th placed Southampton from 7th placed Burnley
Burnley recently ravaged by an unprecedented injury crisis may recall leading scorer and record signing Chris Wood to the pack and the evergreen Stephen Ward is expected to return at the expense of new recruit Charlie Taylor in the left back position
Despite his return from the physioÂ’s treatment table, Tom Heaton the England shot stopper and ClaretÂ’s club captain is expected to find himself on the bench against the relegation threatened visitors from the south coast tomorrow
Nick Pope looks set to continue in goal as he makes a late bid to figure in Gareth SouthgateÂ’s plans for a trip to Russia with the England World Cup squad
It is quite remarkable that Burnley could have both Tom Heaton and Nick Pope representing England in the World Cup finals
Sean Dyche himself the victim of a ruptured thigh muscle injury picked up in training during the Clarets sunshine break in Portugal will be hoping to maintain 7th place in the EPL, with both Everton and Leicester City hoping to take advantage of a slip up by the home team
BurnleyÂ’s near disastrous loss of post-Christmas form must turn around soon, the return of Chris Wood might just be enough to give Burnley the edge in what will inevitably be another low scoring encounter
I expect Burnley to line up (4-4-1-1): Pope, Lowton, Long, Mee, Ward, Lennon, Cork, Westwood, Gudmundsson, Hendrick and Wood
Dean Marney, Sam Vokes, Ashley Barnes, James Tarkowski, Tom Heaton, Charlie Taylor and Georges-Kevin Nkoudou look set for the Burnley bench
Former Claret fansÂ’ favourite Charlie Austin will be missing from the Saints squad as he struggles with yet another long term injury
Shane Long, Steven
Davis and Maya Yoshida are all ruled out for the beleaguered SouthamptonÂ’s visit to Burnley
At this vital time of the season, when injuries and suspensions take their toll on all teams, it is heartening for Burnley fans to realise that even with an injured manager, a very strong Clarets substitutesÂ’ bench might just swing three points in the home sideÂ’s favour? (TEC)
Source : DSG
Source: DSG