Southampton will most likely be without striker Armando Broja for the trip to Vicarage Road on Saturday with Ralph Hasenhuttl confirming that the Albanian from Slough is still struggling with an ankle injury picked up in the Burnley game.

Armando Broja looks certain to miss the trip to Watford after limping off last Saturday with an ankle injury.

Ralph Hasenhuttl had this to say about the situation:

“I think Broja is not available for the weekend because he had an ankle injury after the Burnley game when he scored the goal, so he will miss this game for sure.

“Prowsey’s back. From the game on Tuesday we have one or two players with a little bit of a problem with muscles but not that hard. We have a good selection to pick the right team.”

Given that most of the team up at Stamford Bridge did not play in the game against Burnley, hopefully Broja aside, Hasenhuttl can still put out something approaching his best side.

But the Austrian is known for keeping his cards close to his chest and it could be that Broja may yet feature against the Hornets.

Although Saints departed the Carabao Cub on penalties several players have surely given him food for thought and it has to be said that few in the squad at present can actually guarantee their places at the moment as Ralph hinted.

“This is what you want to have as a manger, player’s that are showing up. It was a very important game for players who haven’t played too much this season and for us to see that we can trust them.

“We have a bigger side this season, they did a fantastic job, we played a fantastic game in a little bit of a different way but against such a team I think it was a very good signal and it was brilliant.”

Photo: Action Images

underweststand added 16:59 - Oct 28 Why am I not surprised?. Broja came off ealry in both the Leeds and Burnley games after getting the " treatment " (crunching tackles /ankle taps) from defenders in those two teams not noted for their delicate footwork. Sad, but inevitable for someone who's got some big headlines in his recent Prem. matches. I noted that Ché Adams was one of the first to go off at Chelsea after he had gone down injured earlier in the game. Although the first choice strikers are surely our two " A-men " one wonders who will be our strikers in the starting line-up, as Mou Elyounoussi is also unavailable after recent surgery on his hand.

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TimSaint added 17:41 - Oct 28 ......and to think many were slagging RH off for subbing Broja - and taking away our only chance of beating Burnley. Well there's your reason. Apologies will be in the post no doubt.
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highfield49 added 18:16 - Oct 28 So a late tackle, in wet conditions, by JWP is reviewed by VAR and a yellow card becomes a red card and three match suspension. A desperate lunge taking out Broja, when the ball is on its way into the net, doesn't even merit a yellow card from the referee. Well, that's fair enough if it indicates the standard of the match officials I suppose but does nothing to show that VAR is used to best effect.

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ElijahK added 18:17 - Oct 28 Well that’s really annoying! Still it’ll probably be Armstrong who starts then, hopefully though he can get going, and get another goal like against Everton, a we’re not gonna get much from midfield, but then again I think just one goal could be enough against Watford, especially with their Dennis suspended. And yeah TimSaint, I’m sure they’ll all be decent people and make sure that they apologise as there comments about Ralph being an idiot for taking him off, even though it was blatantly obvious that he was injured if they actually watched the game!

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ElijahK added 18:26 - Oct 28 Maybe Long should start after his really surprisingly decent display against Chelsea…
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HythePeer added 19:40 - Oct 28 I'd put Livra up front and KWP as RB.
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cotswoldsaint added 22:14 - Oct 28 Good point by HythePeer - didn't Bale start as a FB for us before he went on to be one of the most potent attackers in Europe?
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