Saints supporters were worried that some of the players on International duty might return with injuries, however if they have any Will Still is keeping his cards close to his chest and not letting on.

Southampton FC have posted snippets from Will Still's pre match press conference ahead of Sunday's game against Portsmouth and it is good news on the injury front.

At then end of the transfer window Saints added four players to the squad who were not available for the trip to Watford and the question is whether they might be in line for their debut when Saints take on Pompey.

However it seems that with a full squad apart from long term injury Welington, some might have to wait for their chance.

Will Still had this to say.

"The health is all good, only Welington whose ankle problem is not quite right.

"Damion [Downs] is not back yet, hopefully he'll be back tomorrow which leaves us with not long before the game. The other returnees have been drip-fed back into the team, most were there today. But yeah, mostly we’re looking good.

"It’s a good squad, it’s a big one, but a good one. [We've had] a good injection of quality, but with good people signing also. We’re at a big club, so there’s always competition for places.

"There’s a lot of quality and good players which is what we wanted. I think it should help us look upwards and look forwards. We have to be demanding. We can use that to get better individually and get better collectively."

So hopefully the worry that Finn Azaz & Ryan Manning who were both substituted off in the Republic of Ireland's defeat in Armenia and Shea Charles who came off for Northern Ireland might have come off due to injury, but it seems it was more for fresh legs replacing them, than any niggles which is good news.

All Photos Via Reuters

Monksway added 08:50 - Sep 12 Big squad. Difficult to determine a definitive first eleven in merit from the first games. Everybody will have a different view of who is first choice across most positions especially with the new signings. Robinson and Fraser have been the best players for me but will either keep their lplace with the addition of two wide players, a new 10 and a returning Edozie.
0

Tonyfromdk added 09:27 - Sep 12 I really hope sick note plays. Ross Stewart could do a Pahars. This is the game he can redeem himself. In saying that he’ll probably not play
1

FrankSaint added 11:14 - Sep 12 Tony, it's funny how the memory plays tricks. I only remembered the marvellous goals Pahars scored like the rocket against man city in a league cup midweek match. Mercifully I had forgotten he was more often ill or injured which Gordon Strachan immortalised with his 'He'd catch a computer virus' quip!
1

Bowlercow added 13:28 - Sep 12 We undoubtedly have the better players but they have possibly got the better team right now We are in the very early stage of a massive transition and they have the benefit of only trying to integrate the newbies into a well tried and tested system
0

underweststand added 16:07 - Sep 12 For those many " new" players who have never heard of this derby game, they should know that a good result here is worth much more than just 3 points to the Saints fan base.
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Derby County Polls