Stuart Armstrong available for Southampton’s clash with Everton

Manchester United v Southampton – Premier League – Old Trafford
(Image credit: Peter Powell/NMC Pool)

Southampton will have midfielder Stuart Armstrong available again following a positive Covid-19 test, but on-loan Theo Walcott is not eligible to face parent club Everton.

Moussa Djenepo continues his recovery from a hamstring problem which saw him miss last weekend’s 3-3 draw at Chelsea.

Summer signing Mohammed Salisu has been in team training this week as he steps up his fitness work ahead of a belated debut, while midfielder Will Smallbone (quad) is also out.

Everton playmaker James Rodriguez has not been ruled out of the trip to St Mary’s Stadium.

The Colombia international sustained significant bruising in last weekend’s Merseyside derby, but took part in some training on Friday and manager Carlo Ancelotti remains optimistic.

However, fellow forward Richarlison begins a three-match suspension for his red card against Liverpool, while new signing Ben Godfrey looks set to make his full debut at right-back with Seamus Coleman (hamstring) and Jonjoe Kenny (ankle) both out.

Southampton provisional squad: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Bertrand, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Ings, Adams, Armstrong, Forster, Stephens, Valery, Diallo, Long, Obafemi, Tella.

Everton provisional squad: Pickford, Godfrey, Mina, Keane, Digne, Allan, Gomes, Doucoure, Rodriguez, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin, Olsen, Godfrey, Nkounkou, Delph, Sigurdsson, Davies, Gordon, Bernard.