Preview: Southampton vs Norwich

At the start of the season many would have predicted a convincing win for the home side here but all is not well at St Mary’s.

As well as picking up only two points so far this campaign they also crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday to FC Midtjylland.

A lack of confidence in the camp may be the biggest problem at the moment and the mood won’t have improved with Tottenham’s pursuit of Victor Wanyama. James Ward-Prowse may well come in for the Kenyan, who was not in the squad that travelled to Denmark.

Another player who has been at the centre of transfer talk is Sadio Mane. The Senegal international was only on the bench on Thursday amid rumours linking him with Manchester United but he is expected to return to the starting XI on Sunday.

Ryan Bertrand, Jordy Clasie, Florin Gardos and Fraser Forster all remain injured.

The Saints have failed to score in their last two league games and the likes of Graziano Pelle will now be feeling the pressure against a Norwich side unbeaten on the road since Alex Neil took charge in January.

The Canaries have been impressive so far and their midweek League Cup win over Rotherham brought two players back from the wilderness.

Ricky Van Wolfswinkel and Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe impressed and may have done enough to earn a place on the bench.

Lewis Grabban has been suspended by the club as he tries to push for a move to Bournemouth, but otherwise there are no new injury problems.

Martin Olsson is back in training but it will still be a couple of weeks before he gets back into first-team contention.

Michael Turner has left the club on loan, while a £10 million bid has been put in for Wolves striker Benik Afobe.

Norwich won their first away trip this term, defeating Sunderland 3-1, and if Nathan Redmond can keep up his current form (five goals and five assists in 11 games) then this record could continue.

League Position: Southampton – 18th, 2 pts; Norwich City – 8th, 4 pts
Last Meeting: Southampton 4-2 Norwich City, March 2014
Key Men: Southampton – Graziano Pelle; Norwich City – Nathan Redmond
Form: Southampton – DLD; Norwich City – LWD
Shoot Says: 2-2