Saints are hopeful that Jose Fonte will make a swift return to first team action after being taken off at half time against Bournemouth as a precaution. Saints fans were surprised to see Captain Jose Fonte fail to reappear for the second half against Bournemouth on Sunday, Fonte apparently felt stiff with a hamstring and with the game so one sided at that point and Saints not really being troubled it was decided to take the skipper off as a precaution.

Of course we now know that the second half would pan out much differently, although to be fair this was nothing to do with Fonte not being on the pitch and more to do with Bournemouth overrunning our midfield and the risk was clearly worthwhile in that we kept a clean sheet and got three points.

Indeed it now looks like the right decision as hopefully Fonte will now be fit to face Sunderland on Saturday as Saints look to win at the Stadium Of Light and push themselves nearer the top five.

Ronald Koeman feels that taking off Fonte was the right decision in hindsight.

"Jose had some hamstring problems and it was not the moment to take that risk to continue and I hope because we changed in half-time Jose that he can be fit for the next weekend"

Hopefully that will prove to be the case and Fonte will be fit to face the Mackems

Photo: Action Images via Reuters