Jérémy Pied has joined fellow defenders Cédric and Wesley Hoedt on the sidelines, with the trio definitely ruled out of Saturday’s trip to Fulham in the Emirates FA Cup.
Cédric (ankle) and Hoedt (concussion) both missed Tuesday’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace, while striker Charlie Austin (hamstring) is a long-term absentee.
Now Pied is also unavailable for the third round tie at Craven Cottage, but Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has vowed to pick his strongest possible line-up.
“Outside the squad we’ve got Cédric, Charlie Austin, Jérémy Pied and Wesley Hoedt,” said Pellegrino. “Those four players won’t be available for us.
“I will try to play my best XI to win this game. Sometimes the players have to understand that as a manager I have to make decisions.
“The equation is simple – I want the best for the club and the players have to be professional. We are 25 players, not 11, and most of them have had their opportunity.
“Saturday is another opportunity and I will use this game as a reference to try to move one step forward.”
Pellegrino added that Alex McCarthy will keep his place in goal, having started the last two Premier League games against Palace and Manchester United.
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