Team News: Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Sebastien Bassong dropped by Norwich City

Norwich City manager Chris Hughton has benched captain Sebastien Bassong and club-record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel for their trip to Southampton in the Premier League today.

Gary Hooper is given the nod to spearhead a front three, while Ryan Bennett is recalled to partner Joseph Yobo at the back, with John Ruddy taking the armband.

Wes Hoolahan has to settle for a place on the bench as Anthony Pilkington and Robert Snodgrass are asked to provide the attacking support to Hooper, who has not scored since Boxing Day.

Southampton make two changes, one enforced, with Jack Cork unavailable after picking up a knock in the victory over Crystal Palace last weekend. Victor Wanyama is another midfield absentee.

That gives James Ward-Prowse the chance to return to the starting XI, while Gaston Ramirez is also selected to play behind centre-forward Jay Rodriguez, as Rickie Lambert drops to the substitutes' bench.

Southampton: Boruc; Clyne, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw; Schneiderlin, S. Davis; Ward-Prowse, Lallana, Ramirez; Rodriguez Subs: Gazzaniga, Yoshida, Lambert, Guly, Chambers, Hooiveld, Gallagher

Norwich: Ruddy; Whittaker, Yobo, R Bennett, Olsson; Tettey, Johnson, Howson; Snodgrass, Pilkington, Hooper Subs: Bunn, Martin, Bassong, van Wolfswinkel, Hoolahan, Elmander, Redmond