da 888： Southampton face one of the biggest home matches in their history when they host Inter Milan in the Europa League at St Mary’s on Thursday night.
da doce： The Saints are fighting on a number of fronts this season but the club, and especially the fans, want to see the team reach the knockout stages of a European competition.
Following a 1-0 defeat at the San Siro a fortnight ago, Claude Puel will know that his side need to pick up a positive result on the south coast with themselves, Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Inter – who sacked manager Ronald de Boer on Tuesday – separated by just one point in Group K, and Sparta Prague two clear at the summit.
That got us thinking at Football FanCast. Who MUST be in Southampton’s starting XI for the visit of the Italian giants? We take a look at the five men Puel can’t afford to overlook for Thursday’s clash.
JOSE FONTE
I guess this is more of a sentimental reason, but it would be nice to see the man who is now in his eighth season with the club, and has worked harder than anyone else to help them rise from League One to the Europa League, get a chance to lead his side out against Inter Milan at St Mary’s.
It was an opportunity that Saints’ captain missed out on at the San Siro a fortnight ago, with Puel having to take into consideration the away trip to Manchester City three days later, but supporters will certainly hope the Euro 2016 winner who lines up alongside Virgil van Dijk in Thursday.
ORIOL ROMEU
Arguably Southampton’s player of the season so far, the Spaniard has been in brilliant form in front of the defence. While he is fantastic at covering for the full-backs and isn’t afraid to put in a crunching tackle, it is perhaps his forward distribution that has seen the most improvement this term.
Puel recently suggested that Romeu should be called up to the Spain squad, and Saints need him in that position at the bottom of the diamond for every game at the moment.
CHARLIE AUSTIN
When their top scorer isn’t on the pitch, Southampton look toothless.
It was the case when he was rested for the visit of Sunderland in the EFL Cup last week, where only a moment of magic from Sofiane Boufal gave them a 1-0 win.
Austin is a goalscorer and if you give him a chance in the box, he will put it in the back of the net nine times out of ten – something Shane Long and Jay Rodriguez have struggled with this term.
PIERRE-EMILE HOJBJERG
In recent weeks, it has been hard for some outsiders to fathom why the former Bayern Munich man has been named on the bench, while Jordy Clasie has been in the starting line-up.
Athough he still has lots to learn, the 21-year-old Denmark international seems to have a mature head on his relatively young shoulders, and can be trusted to keep possession of the ball – something which is crucial to this Saints team, and manager Claude Puel.
NATHAN REDMOND
The England Under-21 international has been gradually excelling in his new advanced position up top this season, and the team certainly missed his unpredictability when he sat out the trip to the San Siro a fortnight ago because of injury.
Redmond can give this shaky Inter backline something to think about, and his ability to run at defences means he must start at St Mary’s on Thursday night to give the hosts the best chance of taking all three points.