Southampton's Steven Davis out of Newcastle clash
Thursday 7 April 2016 16:30, UK
Southampton will be without midfielder Steven Davis for Saturday's game at home to Newcastle after the Northern Ireland international picked up an injury at Leicester last week.
Saints boss Ronald Koeman hopes Davis may be back for the trip to Everton on April 16 but says the 31-year-old could be facing two or three weeks on the sidelines.
"Steven Davis is not fit," said Koeman. "He took an injury out of the Leicester game.
"I heard that normally he will be out for two or three weeks, and so I don't know if he will be available for next weekend.
"I hope he will be fit but we have to wait.
"Normally he always starts and that means he is one of the key players in the team, but we have very good replacements for his position."
Koeman had better news regarding forward Shane Long, who has returned to fitness in time to return to the squad for the clash with the struggling Magpies.
Southampton are seventh after last week's 1-0 loss to the leaders, four points behind sixth-placed West Ham, but Koeman remains hopeful they can secure European qualification.
"Of course [we can reach Europe], but it starts by winning the games," he said. "Close to the final part of the League you need points, you need wins.
"We did not have a good result last week but nor did the teams around us and that means we can make a big step if we win the game this Saturday."
"It will be difficult to go above 60 points [finished seventh with 60 last year - currently have 47] but that is part of the difficulty of the Premier League this year. It's more unpredictable and most teams have less points.
"Less than 60 is enough for European football."
Midfielder Dusan Tadic has been in and out of the Southampton team this season and has suggested that there may be some doubt about his future at the club.
But Koeman said: "I spoke to Dusan. He didn't play at the weekend and we spoke about the situation, but there is no problem. We will see what will happen next season.
"We have competition in the team, more players on the bench, and more that don't always start. That's what you want to have.
"I have very good communication with Dusan and the answer is always on the pitch, not outside.
"The Premier League is a tough season and you get ups and downs in your football career, but also we have more competition. We have Shane, Charlie [Austin] and Jay [Rodruguez].
"[Sadio] Mane was on the bench, Austin was on the bench, [Graziano] Pelle too. It's part of football and being a team."
