Moyes says Manquillo is likely to start against Southampton

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Sunderland take on Europa League side Southampton on Saturday

Set to start: Javier Manquillo

David Moyes has praised opponents Southampton ahead of Sunderland’s clash with the Saints this weekend, whilst also telling the club’s official website that new loan signing Javier Manquillo is likely to get the nod after joining from Atletico Madrid earlier this week.

Sunderland travel to St. Mary’s in search of their first win of the David Moyes era, having lost their opening two fixtures against Manchester City and local rivals Middlesbrough.

The Black Cats have been busy in the transfer market as they look to bolster their defensive options, with Paddy McNair, Donald Love and now Spaniard Manquillo the latest to arrive at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland manager David Moyes has praised Southampton

And Moyes is hoping to give a debut to Manquillo this weekend despite his recent arrival, throwing the former Liverpool man into the fray against a side the Scot has praised as being ‘on the climb.’

“I think Southampton are a club which have built progressively and they’ve built progressively through their academy,” said Moyes.

“They’ve had to sell some of their players to finance the next stage of their development but they’re a club which is certainly on the climb because of the way they’ve done their business.”

Southampton manager Claude Puel

On Manquillo, Moyes added “I’m pleased to add more competition and I’m looking forward to working with Javier.

“He has qualities and he was an under-21 player with Spain so we will try to get him in right away and get him ready for the game. There’s a good chance he will be ready to start.”

Manquillo is back in England for the second time of his career, having joined Liverpool at the start of the 2014-2015 season.

Manquillo during his spell at Liverpool

After making 10 league appearances, Manquillo’s two-year loan was terminated at Anfield due to a lack of first-team action after Christmas 2014. He then spent the entirety of last season on loan at French club Marseille.

But now he is back in the Premier League, and is set to take on a Southampton side who are currently on the up, especially with Europa League football to look forward to.