Southampton v MK Dons preview

Big decisions for both managers

Last updated: 8th February 2010  

Southampton v MK Dons preview

Easter: Suspended

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Southampton and MK Dons will both have to make changes for the second leg of their Johnstone's Paint Trophy southern area final.

Saints boss Alan Pardew is missing his four new signings for the tie as his side seek to protect a one-goal advantage from last month's first leg.

Winger Jason Puncheon, who recently left the Dons, defenders Jon Otsemebor and Dan Seaborne, and striker Lee Barnard are all cup-tied.

Michail Antonio, Wayne Thomas, Radhi Jaidi and Lee Holmes are among the players who will be pushing for recalls.

Skipper Dean Hammond, defender Graeme Murty and striker David Connolly are all set to remain on the sidelines.

Hammond is still missing with a calf injury, Murty is continuing his recovery from ankle ligament damage and Connolly is struggling with a groin problem.

MK Dons news

Top scorer Jermaine Easter heads a list of absentees for MK Dons as Paul Ince has several big decisions to make.

Easter begins a two-match ban after picking up his 10th booking of the season at Stockport on Saturday to go with his 16th goal of the campaign.

Sam Baldock will replace him alongside Aaron Wilbraham but manager Ince has selection problems in defence as his side look to overturn a 1-0 deficit.

David McCracken played with a broken nose in the 3-1 win at Stockport but had to come off at half-time with a calf strain and he will be missing while fellow centre-halves Sean O'Hanlon (knee), Mat Doumbe (groin) and Darren Powell (knee) are also out.

Wingers Luke Chadwick (knock) and Andros Townsend (cup-tied) are also missing to leave Ince with a headache.

Ince won the competition in his first spell with the Dons in 2008 and is keen to regain the trophy.

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