PREM: Southampton v West Ham preview

Southampton v West Ham preview

Marko Arnautovic is in the running to return to action for West Ham's trip to Southampton on Thursday.

The Austria international has missed the last three matches after sustaining the injury in the first half of the Hammers' 3-1 victory against Cardiff on December 4, but is almost ready to step up his comeback.

He will be needed for West Ham, who slipped to a surprise defeat at home to Watford on Saturday, having picked up four successive wins previously.

"In this moment, we have eight players injured," Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini said. "We know that December and January are key months for results at the end of the season.

 

"I hope we can recover some players, especially Marko Arnautovic. Maybe he'll be ready next week, but one of the merits of this team is to win games with a lot of players out of the squad."

 

Southampton will be looking for a third win in a row, after picked up back-to-back wins with a 3-1 success at Huddersfield on Saturday, this first time they have won twice in succession since April.

 

Southampton will be without midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The midfielder picked up his fifth yellow card of the season late on in Saturday's 3-1 victory over Huddersfield and must serve a one-match suspension.

Boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is unlikely to make many other changes after seeing his side win two matches in a row. Teenage striker Michael Obafemi will hope for more game time after becoming Southampton's youngest ever Premier League scorer on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Cedric Soares remains a slight doubt with a calf strain, while Ryan Bertrand is unlikely to return following a back injury.

 

Fabian Balbuena and Javier Hernandez have joined West Ham's injury list ahead of the trip to face Saints.

Defender Balbuena suffered a knee injury against Watford on Saturday and striker Hernandez came off with back and hamstring problems.

As well as Arnautovic's fitness, Lucas Perez (foot) will be assessed after he picked up a foot inury that has kept him out since the win over Cardiff.

Jack Wilshere, Ryan Fredericks (both ankle), Andriy Yarmolenko (Achilles), Carlos Sanchez (knee), Winston Reid (knee) and Manuel Lanzini (ACL) remain long-term absentees.