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Southampton will look to get their season moving in the right direction with a win over Championship side Fulham in the FA Cup.
Saints have not won in nine games and are slipping towards trouble in the Premier League.
However, Mauricio Pellegrino has a strong cup pedigree having led Alaves to the Copa del Rey final in 2016.
Craven Cottage is becoming a fortress once again for Fulham, who have won four of their last matches there.
Fulham winger Floyd Ayite is set to miss the game. Ayite limped off with a suspected hamstring injury during the 4-1 victory over Ipswich on Tuesday and could face another spell on the sidelines.
But fellow wide man Lucas Piazon is in line for his first start since August after a broken leg.
David Button is set for a run-out in goal while boss Slavisa Jokanovic will be considering further changes.
Defender Jeremy Pied has been added to Southampton’s injury list ahead of their third-round clash.
French full-back Pied, who played the full 90 minutes as Saints lost to Crystal Palace on Tuesday, has suffered a leg problem, joining fellow defenders Wesley Hoedt (concussion) and Cedric Soares (hamstring) on the sidelines.
Top scorer Charlie Austin has completed a three-game ban but will continue to be absent due to a hamstring issue.
Fulham will be hosting Southampton in the FA Cup for the first time since a third-round replay in January 1999, when Barry Hayles scored a 85th minute winner at Craven Cottage.
The Cottagers have lost three of their last four FA Cup games at home against opposition from a higher division (W1), although they picked up a 4-1 win against Hull City in the fourth round last season.
Southampton have progressed past lower league opponents in 17 of their last 18 FA Cup ties, although the last two occasions have seen the Saints taken to a replay.
Each of Southampton’s last six FA Cup third-round matches (excl. replays) have seen both teams score, with 25 goals scored in total (4.2 goals per game).
I think this could be the final game for Mauricio Pellegrino. The only player he’s lost is Virgil van Dijk so there are no real excuses for how disappointing Southampton have been.
Manolo Gabbiadini doesn’t look like he knows what the manager wants from him and I think they’d take Ronald Koeman back in a heartbeat, although I’m not sure the fans would be happy with that.
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