The Southampton manager discussed the prospect of Sofiane Boufal and Martin Caceres featuring this Sunday.
Sofiane Boufal has struggled for fitness since joining Southampton
Southampton manager Claude Puel has said it’s still too early to tell if Sofiane Boufal will be fit for Sunday’s EFL Cup final.
“He [Boufal] came back with the team yesterday and we will see tomorrow if he can be fit for this game,” Puel is quoted as telling the club website.
The Moroccan winger hasn’t played since picking up an ankle injury against West Ham.
Boufal also missed both legs of the semi-final because of his inclusion in Morocco’s Africa Cup of Nations squad – a tournament he missed because of injury – but did score a spectacular goal versus Sunderland in the fourth round on what was his first start for the club.
Puel also spoke about new signing Martin Caceres, saying he was “surprised” at the defender’s fitness levels given he hasn’t played in more than a year.
However he did concede, “I don’t know if he can participate at the beginning of this game.”
Virgil van Dijk is among those definitely ruled out meaning Jack Stephens and Maya Yoshida will likely be Puel’s centre-back pairing.
Jack Stephens performed brilliantly in the semi-final second leg
Charlie Austin, Matt Targett, Alex McCarthy and Jeremy Pied are all long-term absentees too.
Southampton have only once won a major trophy, the FA Cup in 1976, and on that occasion they played Manchester United in the final too.
As for United they have injury concerns of their own with Henrikh Mkhitaryan out and Phil Jones a doubt.
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