Midfield trio return for Saints

Midfielders Jamie Redknapp, Graeme Le Saux and Nigel Quashie are all expected to return to Southampton’s side as they bid for their first away win of the Barclays Premiership season at Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Redknapp was rested for last weekend’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United, Le Saux missed the game with a sore Achilles, while Quashie was cup-tied.

Record signing Rory Delap (ankle) and Claus Lundekvam (flu) are fit again but David Prutton is banned and manager Harry Redknapp must once again decide between Paul Smith and Antti Niemi in goal.

Team (from): Smith, Delap, Lundekvam, Jakobsson, Bernard, Telfer, Redknapp, Quashie, Le Saux, Crouch, Camara, Phillips, Oakley, Davenport, McCann, Best, Cranie, A Svensson, Nilsson, Niemi.