Ronald Koeman has challenged his Southampton players to show some character and end their five-game losing streak by beating Everton this afternoon.

The Saints' miserable December took a turn for the worse after losing 1-0 to Sheffield United in a League Cup quarter-final clash on Tuesday.

The result represented their fifth straight defeat, having previously won nine of their last 10 games, and the Dutchman wants his troops to display some heart against the Toffees.

"Injuries and suspensions are part of football but in the last few weeks maybe that's one of the reasons we have found it tough," he told reporters.

"We had to change too much in the team, too many players are not 100 per cent in a physical way and the team is maybe a little bit more down.

"But we know we have to accept that and there is no time to be down. We have to go on and we need to give a good reaction. It's about the character of the team that we have to show on Saturday."

Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle, two prominent figures in Southampton's early-season heroics, are both doubts to feature at St Mary's today.