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WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Pretty simple, really. It’s a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup and a chance to keep the dream of a trip to Wembley in the competition alive.
For Southampton, there is the additional importance of trying to end a run of three defeats that has halted the momentum Claude Puel’s side had built up before Christmas.
Norwich could do with a confidence-boosting result too, though, with only three of their last 14 matches having resulted in a victory.
TEAM NEWS
Norwich City: Midfielder Graham Dorrans is absent for the Canaries with a knee injury. Fellow midfielder Louis Thompson is also sidelined, but winger Matt Jarvis is set to return to the squad after recovering from injury. Manager Alex Neil has indicated he will make changes for the game, but won’t make wholesale alterations to his side.
Southampton: Right-back Cédric is set to miss out, having failed to recover in time from the injury he sustained last Monday, at Everton. Left-back Ryan Bertrand is a doubt, having suffered from illness this week. Additionally, Charlie Austin, Matt Targett and Alex McCarthy remain sidelined.
FORM GUIDE:
Norwich City’s last five:
Derby County (h) W 3-0
Brentford (a) D 0-0
Reading (a) L 1-3
Huddersfield (h) L 1-2
Aston Villa (h) W 1-0
Southampton’s last five:
Everton (a) L 0-3
West Bromwich Albion (h) L 1-2
Tottenham Hotspur (h) L 1-4
Bournemouth (a) W 3-1
Stoke City (a) D 0-0
TOP PERFORMERS:
Portugal striker Nelson Oliveira has been the main dangerman for the Canaries this season, although Saints will also need to watch out for Jacob Murphy if he plays, given the midfielder had seven goals and five assists already this term.
Top scorers: Nelson Oliveira (8), Jacob Murphy (7)
Most assists: Josh Murphy, Jacob Murphy (5)
Saints are still without top scorer Charlie Austin, as he recovers from a shoulder injury. Jay Rodriguez is closes to him in the goal charts, while James Ward-Prowse will be hoping to add to his team-leading assist total. Nathan Redmond will also be keen to add to his total of three goals, as he faces his former team.
Top scorers: Charlie Austin (9), Jay Rodriguez (4)
Most assists: James Ward-Prowse (3), Dušan Tadić, Steven Davis (2)
PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
All-time record:
Played: 101
Norwich City: 33
Draws: 29
Southampton: 39
Previous four meetings:
January 2016: Norwich 1-0 Southampton
August 2015: Southampton 3-0 Norwich (Pellè, Tadić 2)
March 2014: Southampton 4-2 Norwich (Schneiderlin, Lambert, Rodriguez, Gallagher)
August 2013: Norwich 1-0 Southampton
DID YOU KNOW?
The last time Southampton faced Norwich City in the FA Cup, they went all the way to the final of the competition, in 2003.
The only time the sides have met in the FA Cup at Carrow Road, Norwich won 2-1 in a sixth-round replay, in 1992.
If Dušan Tadić features, it will be his 100th appearance for Southampton.
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