MX23RW : Thursday, December 12 23:30:55| >> :120:23906:23906:

Preview: Southampton vs. Swansea City

Sports Mole previews the Premier League contest between Southampton and Swansea City.

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has seen his squad boosted by the return of Maya Yoshida and Sadio Mane for Sunday's encounter with Swansea City.

The duo have been absent since the start of the year because of international duty, but they are welcome additions to a club that is without Shane Long after he suffered a shoulder injury last weekend.

Striker Graziano Pelle netted for the first time in eight games during that fixture, and Koeman will be hoping that the Italian can add to his tally in the top flight.

The defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend was Southampton's first since December 16, but they will be confident of return to winning ways against an out-of-form Swansea side.

The Welsh club have enjoyed a solid campaign in the lower reaches of the top half of the standings, but the defeats to Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers have lowered the mood at the Liberty Stadium.

Their one victory in the last six fixtures came away at Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup, and boss Garry Monk will be keen on keeping his team well clear of a relegation scrap.

Both Gylfi Sigurdsson and Kyle Bartley are banned after being sent off at Ewood Park, but Kyle Naughton could be handed his debut after signing from Tottenham Hotspur.

Midfielder Jack Cork left Southampton to join Swansea on Friday but he isn't available for selection as he signed after the 12pm deadline.

Southampton:

Form in Premier League: WWDWWW
Form in all competitions: WDWWWL

Possible starting lineup: Forster; Clyne, Fonte, Gardos, Bertrand; Reed, S Davis, Ward-Prowse; Tadic, Elia, Pelle

Swansea City:

Form in Premier League: WWLDDL
Form in all competitions: LDWDLL

Possible starting lineup: Fabianski, Tiendalli, Fernandez, Williams, Naughton, Carroll, Shelvey, Dyer, Oliveira, Routledge, Gomis

Sports Mole says: 2-1


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Written by
Darren Plant
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Morgan Schneiderlin of Southampton celebrates scoring the equalising goal during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Southampton at Boleyn Ground on August 30, 2014
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