Southampton and Portsmouth will go head-to-head in their first Hampshire league derby since 2012 on Sunday afternoon, with Will Still looking to cement himself as an early hero among supporters at St Mary’s.
Saints have made a slow start to the campaign under new manager Still after taking five points from 12 available, with John Mousinho’s Pompey sitting two points and five places above them in the Championship standings after securing wins against Oxford United and Preston this season.
Both teams will have some decisions to make for the game, and this is how GIVEMESPORT expects the managers to line up.
Southampton Team News
Still looks to have a pretty much fully fit squad for the highly-anticipated south coast derby, with left-back Welington set to be the only absentee through injury.
Striker Damion Downs only arrived back in the UK late this week after being on international duty with the United States, which could raise question marks over his spot in the squad for Sunday.
After pulling out of the draw against Watford at the last minute, Flynn Downes should be fit to play while Still is also boosted by the availability of Joe Aribo and Samuel Edozie, who have both so far failed to secure moves away from St Mary’s with limited windows still open across the world.
Meanwhile, four players could make their debuts against Portsmouth after joining late in the window – Tom Fellows, Elias Jelert, Leo Scienza and Caspar Jander.
|
Southampton Injuries and Suspensions |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Injury |
Potential Return Date |
|
Welington |
Ankle |
Unknown |
Still Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Still shared an update on his squad ahead of the big game.
“The health is all good, it’s only Welington whose ankle problem is not quite right.”
“Damion [Downs] is not back yet, hopefully he’ll be back tomorrow [Friday], which leaves us with not long before the game.
“The other returnees have been drip-fed back into the team; most were there today. But yeah, mostly we’re looking good.”
Southampton Predicted XI
- Southampton Predicted XI: Bazunu; Roerslev, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Manning; Charles, Downes; Fellows, Azaz, Fraser; Archer.
- Southampton Predicted Substitutes: McCarthy (GK), Wood (DEF), Jelert (DEF), Jander (MID), Robinson (MID), Scienza (MID), Downs (FWD), Armstrong (FWD), Stewart (FWD).
After getting the signings he wanted in attacking areas prior to the window closing, we expect Still to move away from a back five and use a 4-2-3-1 system against Pompey.
The game should see Tom Fellows make his debut alongside fellow new boy Finn Azaz, joining Ryan Fraser and Cameron Archer in attack.
Jander, Scienza, Adam Armstrong and Ross Stewart – who cost a combined £40m – will look to make an impact from the bench.
Portsmouth Team News
Pompey will be boosted by the return of Portsmouth-born Marlon Pack to the squad after injury, while academy graduate Conor Chaplin could be handed his second debut for the club after joining on loan from Ipswich Town.
Meanwhile, there could be some doubts over Adrian Segecic, Hayden Matthews and Luke Le Roux being in contention to start at St Mary’s after all were involved in long-haul travel during the international break.
Mousinho Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Mousinho shared an update on his Pompey squad ahead of the derby.
“Marlon [Pack] is in contention, he’s been training so he should be fit and available for the squad.
“We need to take a view of that on Saturday when we come back to train. That would be a good one and I think he’s come back ahead of schedule.
“I think it will be a massive boost to have him back. He’s been a big boost in training this week.
“They didn’t train today. Adrian [Segecic] and Hayden [Matthews] both flew in this morning so they have been at the training ground but didn’t train. They arrived half-way through training.
“Luke (Le Roux) got in a bit earlier but the same thing because of the length of flight we haven’t risked them.
“It’s one of those where they need to get over the jetlag first before they can be involved in anything.”
Portsmouth Predicted XI
- Portsmouth Predicted XI: Schmid; Swanson, Poole, Shaughnessy, Ogilvie; Swift, Dozzell; Segecic, Chaplin, Murphy; Bishop.
- Portsmouth Predicted Substitutes: Bursik (GK), Knight (DEF), Williams (DEF), Le Roux (MID), Pack (MID), Devlin (MID), Bianchini (FWD), Kirk (FWD), Yang Min-hyeok (FWD).
Mousinho faces some tough calls to change a side that performed well against Preston, but we expect someone of the quality of Chaplin to come straight into the XI with fellow late-window arrival Mackenzie Kirk likely having to settle for a spot on the bench.
Pack could join Kirk there after a six-week absence, but he will be desperate to get on at some point.
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