MATCH POSTPONED: Fresh update on Southampton vs Ipswich Town as one ruled out and five doubts, including Ross Stewart update
MATCH POSTPONED: Fresh update on Southampton vs Ipswich Town as one ruled out and five doubts, including Ross Stewart update
Southampton undoubtedly face their biggest game of the season so far on Saturday as Russell Martin prepares his players for a relegation six-pointer against Ipswich Town.
Southampton are yet to pick up a single point in the Premier League, whilst fellow newly-promoted side Ipswich Town have drawn their last two after losing to Liverpool and Manchester City in their first two games.
Kieran McKenna did the double over Russell Martin in the Championship last season and the Southampton manager will be desperate to get his revenge in front of a hopeful St Mary’s crowd.
There were positives to take from the first 30 minutes of the 3-0 defeat against Manchester United last weekend, with 18-year-old Tyler Dibling’s performance particularly exciting.
However, the Saints failed to make their early dominance count as Cameron Archer missed a 33rd-minute penalty and Martin knows his side cannot afford to be wasteful again against Ipswich.
Southampton injury news for Ipswich Town clash
Martin will benefit from almost a full squad to choose from as he has the task capable of overcoming a stubborn Ipswich side.
Gavin Bazunu is the only definite absentee, with the Irish goalkeeper not named in Southampton’s Premier League squad for the first half of the season due to an Achilles injury sustained in April.
Kamaldeen Sulemana is the only other doubt having not featured this season since picking up an injury against Oxford United in pre-season, but Martin has suggested recently that he is not far off a return.
However, given Southampton sanctioned a loan-to-buy move to Ajax before it was deemed too late to be registered by FIFA, Sulemana’s involvement is doubtful regardless of his fitness.
Saints were boosted by the return of Ross Stewart off the bench against United last weekend before another cameo against Everton in the Carabao Cup in midweek as he builds his fitness.
Stewart arrived at Southampton with an Achilles injury last summer before a hamstring issue limited him to just four appearances – all from the bench – in his debut season.
A setback in pre-season saw the Scotland striker not feature in any of the summer’s friendlies before making his long-awaited return last Saturday.
Ipswich Town have four doubts ahead of travelling to Southampton
Similarly, the Ipswich squad head into this clash in a relatively clean bill of health.
McKenna has no players who are guaranteed to miss this one but there are four doubts for the Tractor Boys.
All of those doubts were part of the Town side that pipped Southampton to automatic promotion last season, with Wes Burns, George Hirst, Nathan Broadhead and Harry Clarke all sidelined so far this season.
However, McKenna confirmed last week that all four players are back on the grass as they edge closer to returns, although any involvement would likely be limited for any of the four players.
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