EPL: Southampton v Leicester preview
Southampton v Leicester preview
Claude Puel returns to Southampton for the first time since his sacking as a resurgent Leicester go in search of a fourth Premier League win on the spin.
The Frenchman was relieved of his duties at St Mary's at the end of last season but he has strengthened his reputation by guiding the Foxes out of their early-season slump and up to eight in the table.
Puel has lost just one of his seven games at Leicester and heads to his former employers looking to win four successive league games since he was manager of Nice in October 2015.
Meanwhile his predecessor, Mauricio Pellegrino, has struggled to take Southampton to new heights, with the Saints winning just four of their 16 league games this season.
Mauricio Pellegrino has commended the work his counterpart Claude Puel has been doing at Leicester, as their teams prepare to meet at St Mary's
However, the Saints have lost just one of their 11 Premier League home games against Leicester - winning five and drawing five - with that loss coming at The Dell way back in April 2000.
Leicester's only win at St Mary's in any competition was in a Sky Bet Championship game in January 2012, a run Pellegrino will no doubt be keen to extend.
Team news
Southampton defender Cedric Soares returned to full training on Monday and could feature after missing the 1-1 draws with Bournemouth and Arsenal.
Saints boss Pellegrino is expected to mix up his selection to combat the festive fixture glut which sees his side play six times in three weeks.
Shinji Okazaki is available after he came off the bench and shrugged off a head injury to inspire the weekend win at Newcastle.
Robert Huth (ankle) and Matty James (Achilles) remain out but Puel is hopeful the pair will soon be available as they step up their respective recoveries.
Puel has lost just one of his seven games at Leicester and heads to his former employers looking to win four successive league games since he was manager of Nice in October 2015.
Meanwhile his predecessor, Mauricio Pellegrino, has struggled to take Southampton to new heights, with the Saints winning just four of their 16 league games this season.
Mauricio Pellegrino has commended the work his counterpart Claude Puel has been doing at Leicester, as their teams prepare to meet at St Mary's
However, the Saints have lost just one of their 11 Premier League home games against Leicester - winning five and drawing five - with that loss coming at The Dell way back in April 2000.
Leicester's only win at St Mary's in any competition was in a Sky Bet Championship game in January 2012, a run Pellegrino will no doubt be keen to extend.
Team news
Southampton defender Cedric Soares returned to full training on Monday and could feature after missing the 1-1 draws with Bournemouth and Arsenal.
Saints boss Pellegrino is expected to mix up his selection to combat the festive fixture glut which sees his side play six times in three weeks.
Shinji Okazaki is available after he came off the bench and shrugged off a head injury to inspire the weekend win at Newcastle.
Robert Huth (ankle) and Matty James (Achilles) remain out but Puel is hopeful the pair will soon be available as they step up their respective recoveries.