Southampton v Tottenham preview

Southampton will be looking to move out of the bottom three on Sunday, while Tottenham Hotspur are aiming at the top four.

It has been an uncomfortable return to the top flight for the Saints so far, with one win and four points all they have to show for maximum effort in eight games. Scoring goals has not been a problem for Nigel Adkins' side, but keeping them out at the other end has been an issue. The fixture has not been kind to the Saints, with three of the top four already faced and a trip to high-flying West Bromwich Albion next on the schedule, but results need to improve if confidence is to be restored and pressure lifted. Spurs, on the other hand, have been in decent form of late, with a derby defeat to Chelsea last time out bringing to an end a run of four straight successes. Andre Villas-Boas now has his troops sat just outside the UEFA Champions League places, with it possible that they could join the frontrunners if results go their way this weekend. They will be keen to get the Chelsea result out of their system on Sunday and will hope that a midweek trip to Slovenia in the UEFA Europa League has not taken too much out of them.Southampton are once again expected to be without the services of record signing Gaston Ramirez. Adkins revealed ahead of last weekend's match at West Ham United that the Uruguayan is likely to be missing for another month. Jack Cork and Tadanari Lee are making steady progress in their recovery from knee and wrist injuries respectively, while Frazer Richardson will have his thigh strain assessed ahead of the game. Having made his debut at Upton Park, Poland international Artur Boruc will hope to retain his standing between the sticks. Tottenham's Gareth Bale will return from paternity leave to face his former employers. The Wales international missed the games with Chelsea and Maribor after the birth of his first child and will be joined in the squad by Brad Friedel, who also did not travel to Slovenia on Thursday. Emmanuel Adebayor could return after back pain and be joined at St Mary's by Mousa Dembele, who has recently struggled with a hip complaint. Michael Dawson (illness) will be assessed ahead of kick-off, while Scott Parker (Achilles), Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Younes Kaboul (both knee) are all sidelined.