It today's press conference Ronald Koeman was pleased to announce the return of Steven Davis but confirmed Charlie Austin will miss out.

Both missed last week's win over Newcastle with Davis ruled out with an ankle injury in the week before the game and Austin twisting his knee in the warm up after the team had been named, so he was still listed as a sub.

Koeman told Southampton's official YouTube channel: "Charlie Austin is not fit. There's no damage in his ligaments — he twisted his knee last week in the warm-up and he's maybe out for one more week. That's positive news, that it's not for a long time.

"Steven Davis is back. He did the normal training sessions from last Tuesday and that's good."

Koeman also revealed that Shane Long had been taken off in the second half as a precaution, after being clattered by the keeper he was still a little groggy.

"Shane is ok, he was a little bit dizzy after half-time. That was the reason that we changed Shane in the game, and he's back and he's ok and he's full of confidence."

Long having to be taken off perhaps contributed to Saints failure to score more than the three they had amassed shortly after the break, with Austin not able to come on, it only left Jay Rodriguez as an attacking option to replace Long and for his comeback game the Saints boss did not want to push him too hard too quickly meaning that an attacking player in Long had to be replaced by a midfielder.

Photo: Action Images

schatfield added 08:43 - Apr 15 Charlie Austin is made of glass
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SaintBrock added 14:57 - Apr 15 He seems to have his problems for sure but let's hope they can sort him out over the summer and get some strength in the muscles around that area. We'll be in a bit of a mess if both he and Jay have unbendable injuries. Glad that Steven Davis is back in contention, goalscorer he may not be but he is one of the very few never say die characters we have for the full 90. Team sheet... use Autofill in his case.

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