Danny Ings is very much in contention for a place against his old club Burnley on Sunday according to Saints boss Mark Hughes who has given the media an update on his squad.
Mark Hughes has confirmed that Danny Ings will go straight into the squad for the opening game of the Premier League season against Burnley on Sunday at St Mary's, speaking ahead of the game Hughes said.
"Danny is available and we’ll have a look at him in the next couple of days,” Hughes said.
"Clearly there’s great enthusiasm from him and he wants to be a part of the opening game. He’s fit and well and has trained and had gametime in pre-season. We’ll see how he goes but he’s certainly an option for me.”
Aside from the arrival of Ings Hughes has a fully fit squad to choose from aside from Cedric Soares lacking game time after his late arrival to pre season due to his participation in the World Cup and a bout of illness that prevented him reporting back on time.
Hughes commented.
"Cedric has been back since Monday. He was poorly last week and he looks okay now; he’s a fit guy anyway and has been to the World Cup of course. If he’s fit and I think he’s right and ready, it won’t be a problem for him to play.
"He will be honest with himself and us about how he feels and we will have that conversation nearer the time but as it stands, he’s certainly an option for us too for the weekend.
"I’ve got a fully fit squad of 25 players who are all ready to go, as it should be.”
Hughes now has a nice problem, a fully fit squad and options in all departments, my feeling is that Ings will start on the bench and that Cedric won't make the squad, the manager perhaps considering that with Burnley lacking in attacking options that he can sacrifice a little at the back to bolster his own side going forward.
That being the case he will give Cedric another week to get right ahead of the visit to Everton where it is likely to be more of a game Saints will be on the back foot.