With today’s 2pm kick off at Southampton fast approaching, it’s a good time to consider the starting 11 Eddie Howe will select at St Mary’s.
Keeping form, fitness and availability in mind, here’s the side we expect to start and why:
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock – Almiron, Wilson, Murphy.
With Joelinton suspended, Howe will be forced to make at least one change in this one.
He does have plenty of options, however. Does he recall Jacob Murphy, hand Allan Saint-Maximin his first start since August or bring a fit-again Jonjo Shelvey back into the fold?
I’d like to see ASM, but I can see Murphy getting the nod if the Frenchman isn’t ready to start, with him making a real impact from the bench in our 4-0 win over Aston Villa.
As for Shelvey, Howe’s pre-match comments suggest he’s not ready to start just yet, with him unlikely to be risked too soon just two weeks before the World Cup break.
