In a double boost for Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, he has two players back available for his side’s upcoming FA Cup tie against Coventry City.
It’s Premier League vs Championship on Saturday afternoon at St Mary’s in the Fourth Round, and the Saints are the form side coming into the tie.
The hosts dramatically defeated Swansea City 3-2 in extra time in the previous round and have only lost one of their last six league matches, leaving them 12th in the top flight.
Meanwhile, Coventry knocked out Derby County in the Third Round but have lost three of their last five in the league.
However, they did win the other two against Peterborough and Stoke, leaving them tenth in the second tier.
Double Southampton boost ahead of Coventry FA Cup clash
The Sky Blues will fancy themselves to pull off an upset but this is a golden chance for Southampton to progress to the Fifth Round and Hasenhuttl has received a double injury boost in the build-up to the game.
On Thursday, he confirmed that both Tino Livramento and Will Smallbone are back in contention following injury.
Livramento started the club’s first 18 Premier League fixtures this season but has been sidelined since Boxing Day, while Smallbone has only managed two first-team appearances so far this campaign.
Ex-Chelsea starlet Livramento’s return to fitness is a particularly significant boost as the England U21 international showed real promise during the first half of the season.
It’s not all good news for the Saints, though, with goalkeeper Alex McCarthy and midfielder Nathan Tella both still sidelined.
“We have at the moment two injured players,” said Hasenhuttl, as quoted by Southampton’s official website. “Alex McCarthy is out for a little bit longer with a setback from the recovery. Nathan Tella is also still out.
“Will Smallbone is back in training and Tino Livramento also, that’s it so far.”
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