Southampton head coach Russell Martin has confirmed a double injury boost for his side ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur at St Mary's.
The Saints boss told the media in his pre-game press conference that both Paul Onuachu and Jan Bednarek are fit to play, leaving seven players on Southampton's absentee list.
Jack Stephens (suspended), Aaron Ramsdale (finger), Will Smallbone (thigh), Juan Larios (unspecified), Adam Lallana (thigh), Ross Stewart (calf) and Gavin Bazunu (Achilles) will play no part in the clash with Spurs, but both Onuachu and Bednarek are primed to come back into the first XI.
Bednarek's return to the backline could lead to a slight change in shape, as Nathan Wood impressed in the 1-0 loss to Aston Villa last weekend and has surely done enough to reprise his role in the backline.
Bednarek, Wood and Taylor Harwood-Bellis should shield Joe Lumley, with ex-Spurs man Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan Manning bombing down the flanks, meaning that James Bree would be sacrificed.
Martin will likely continue with the untouched engine room of Flynn Downes, Mateus Fernandes and Tyler Dibling, though, while Adam Armstrong should not be bumped down to the bench by Onuachu.
Instead, the towering striker should take the place of Cameron Archer, as Southampton bid to score against Tottenham for the 16th Premier League game running.
Southampton possible starting lineup:
Lumley; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Bednarek, Manning; Downes, Fernandes; Dibling; Armstrong, Onuachu
> Click here to see how Spurs could line up for Sunday's clash
Ben Knapton
