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Southampton embark on their fifth Premier League game of the season this Saturday when they make the trip to Bramall Lane, where they’ll take on a Sheffield United side who have enjoyed an excellent return to the top-flight.
Chris Wilder’s men will pose a tough challenge to Ralph Hasenhuttl this weekend, having already taken three points from fourth-place Crystal Palace, while also fighting back from 2-0 down to grab a late point against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
We recently detailed how the former RB Leipzig boss should stick with his 4-2-2-2 system to combat the Blades’ 3-5-2 formation, so let’s take a look at the eleven players who Hasenhuttl should select…
After earning a point against Manchester United last time out, you could forgive Hasenhuttl for sticking with the same lineup for the match against the Blades – however, changes are a must.
We think that the Austrian boss should drop two men from the XI that started against the Red Devils.
James Ward-Prowse, who has been quiet so far this season with no goals and no assists despite starting all four games, should drop out for Stuart Armstrong.
The former Celtic man offers a bit more dynamism with his long-range shooting ability and engine – we saw how dangerous he can be from range against Fulham last season, and Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe stated at the time that it is a quality the Saints must look to utilise more.
We have also already outlined how Ward-Prowse could become a casualty of Hasenhuttl playing a 4-2-2-2 system, so it makes sense for Armstrong to be given a chance.
Having said that, we would have chosen either Nathan Redmond or Moussa Djenepo to play in his place given the fact they’ve both already scored this term, but the former is still out with an injury whereas Hasenhuttl said that the chances of the latter playing at the weekend “are not that big”.
Away from the attack, Ryan Bertrand should return to the XI at left-back after a period of absence through injury, although the boss said that he would’ve dropped the 30-year-old for the trip to Brighton regardless of his ankle injury – so perhaps not all is well between the two.
Summer signing Kevin Danso had been playing in his place, but the 20-year-old is suspended after picking up two yellow cards against United.
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