Shane Long is the only doubt for the trip to the King Power Stadium but that is tempered by the news that Jay Rodriguez is fit and raring to go.

I said at the very start of the season that perhaps the difference between this year and last would be the fact that now we have built a squad big enough to cope with injuries and suspensions and that this would perhaps win us a few more points that we would not have got last season.

Now Ronald Koeman's problem though is not injuries but the fact that for perhaps the first time in his two seasons at St Mary's he has virtually a full squad to pick from.

The only doubt for the trip to Leicester if you don't include long term casualty Florin Gardos is Shane Long who picked up a knock playing for the Republic of Ireland in midweek. Ryan Bertrand has recovered from his injury after rest and treatment at St Mary's after pulling out of the England squad.

Perhaps that would have been a problem last season but now Koeman has an abundance of riches including the return to the squad after their injuries of Jar Rodriguez and Charlie Austin.

Speaking ahead of the game Ronald Koeman was aware that now he faced a selection headache different from anything before at St Mary's for him and perhaps every one of his predecessors .

“That’s possible, but it’s all about a team,”

“That was also the message to the players, and of course players will be disappointed but it’s part of the job"

“We had always competition but not really that competition with our strikers.

“If everybody is responding like Pelle and Sadio the second half (against Liverpool) that’s good competition.

“You need a full squad to have that tough Premier League season.

“Of course you like to have everybody available but injuries and suspensions is part of football.

“It’s good to have everybody available for the last part of the season.

“You don’t get really any more chances if you don’t win from now to two or three weeks.

“You play now for everything you like to show in Europe.”

Even if Shane Long is not fit Koeman has still not decided whether he will be involved at Leicester, but is pleased to have him back and the chance to integrate him into the squad.

The good thing for the manager though is with an abundance of attacking players at his disposal he is not under pressure to throw J Rod back into the team before he is ready.

“He is a long time away and you need to time to come back on really your level, and to come back really on your level you need game time. That’s normal,”

“It’s always difficult for a player who is a long time away from the team, and he had a big knee injury, and he was starting playing and he get his feet operation.

“He’s full of motivation and he’s happy to be back and to do everything what a normal football player can do, and that’s good.

“Now he needs time to come back on his level and that’s like before. That’s not different.”

Photo: Action Images

SaintGeorge added 18:09 - Apr 2 Jar Rodriguez? Jar Jar Rodriguez? Anyway, remember when Nicholl basically played five up front - the Wallace nippers, Matty, Shearer and Paul Rideout? Say we turn out like that at Leicester - Mané, Long, Austin, Jrod, Pellè - what's the rest of the team? :o)
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halftimeorange added 10:20 - Apr 3 J-Rod is no Shane Long. We need Long to upset the Leicester defence. Koeman will surely not start J-Rod from the start, and probably not Austin.
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