Southampton suffered a fourth successive Premier League defeat at Burnley last weekend to slip further down the table.

Claude Puel’s side lost three times in six days over the festive period and, despite drawing with Norwich and then beating Liverpool, they couldn’t end that barren run on Saturday, going down 1-0 at Sean Dyche’s Burnley.

Joey Barton’s free-kick 12 minutes from time was enough to see off the Saints, who have fallen to 13th in the table as a result, just a month after sitting in seventh place.

Nonetheless, it’s not all doom and gloom at St Mary’s, as Puel’s men will take a one-goal advantage to Anfield next week in their League Cup semi-final, having deservedly won the first leg 1-0 on January 11.

Before then though, they face Norwich in an FA Cup third round replay tonight (7.45pm kick-off) as they look to reach at least the fourth round for the sixth time in eight seasons.

However, many feel that the Saints are lacking in a few areas heading into the second half of the season, and Puel could thus look to bring in more additions in this month’s transfer window.

And, with a few players being linked with the South Coast club, here is what their fearsome FRONT THREE could look like come February 1…

Nathan Redmond

Charlie Austin’s long-term injury leaves Southampton with few options upfront, although Puel’s utilisation of Nathan Redmond in a more advanced position earlier in the season could pay dividends over the coming weeks.

The 22-year-old, who moved to the South Coast last year from Norwich, has been used as a forward for much of the campaign, be it alongside Austin, or with the likes of Jay Rodriguez and Shane Long.

Redmond has scored four goals and laid on one assist so far this season, so he hasn’t quite been as prolific as many Saints fans would have hoped, but he’s going to get ample opportunities to add to that in the second half of the campaign due to Austin’s injury.

The 22-year-old played well against Liverpool the other week and has had a few good performances in recent weeks, and he’ll be important to Puel over the coming months in a bid to get the goals to get them into the top half of the Premier League.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Despite having his best goal-scoring season to date at Arsenal, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain doesn’t look any closer to nailing down a regular first team spot.

The 23-year-old’s tally of six goals is two more than his next best back in 2011/12, his first season at the Emirates, yet he has still had more substitute appearances this season than starts, 14 to 13.

Thus, could a return to Southampton be on the cards?

The Saints sold the England international for £12 million back in 2011, yet his pace and desire to take defenders on could be exactly what Puel’s side need in the second half of the season, especially given that they have scored just 19 goals in the league this season, only Middlesbrough have netted less (17).

Oxlade-Chamberlain admitted earlier in the season that he may have to consider his Arsenal future and, given that he hasn’t really had a sustained run in the side since those comments, he might be tempted by a move away this month.

Southampton could be the ideal destination for him.

Manolo Gabbiadini

Austin’s injury has left a void in the Saints frontline, but it’s one that could be filled by Napoli forward Manolo Gabbiadini this month.

The 25-year-old has started just seven of their 20 Serie A games this season, netting just three goals in that time and indeed getting himself sent off in their 2-1 win over Crotone at the end of October.

Despite scoring three goals in his last three appearances for the Italian side, Gabbiadini still looks set to leave Naples this month, with some Premier League sides reportedly interested in the Italian international.

One of which is Southampton, who could really do with strengthening their frontline ahead of the second half of the season if they are to record a fourth successive top half finish in the Premier League.