How Southampton could line up against Burnley

By Oliver Thomas | 02 Apr 2021 16:21, Last updated: 04 Jun 2025 23:31

Southampton welcome Burnley to St Mary's on Sunday afternoon, with the hosts hoping to claim their first top-flight victory since January 4.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has confirmed that Danny Ings and Theo Walcott returned to training over the international break and could be in contention to feature.

Walcott has been out since January with a thigh injury, while Ings has missed the last three matches after limping out of Southampton's Premier League clash with Sheffield United.

Ings's return in particular will be a huge boost for the Saints, as the 28-year-old has scored in each of his last three top-flight appearances against teams the striker previously played for in the competition, including a goal in each of his last two games against Burnley.

Hasenhuttl's only new injury concern is to captain James Ward-Prowse, who missed England's midweek victory over Poland with a calf problem.

The likes of Takumi Minamino, Moussa Djenepo, Che Adams and Stuart Armstrong, who were all away on international duty, have returned unscathed and are in contention to feature.

Midfielders Oriol Romeu (broken ankle) and William Smallbone (knee) as well as forward Michael Obafemi (muscle) are three players who will miss definitely be absent this weekend.

Goalkeeper Fraser Forster, who has started four of the last five matches in all competitions, could keep his place ahead of Alex McCarthy.

Southampton possible starting XI: Forster; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Bertrand; Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Diallo, Djenepo; Adams, Ings

> Click here to see how Burnley could line up for this contest