Mauricio Pellegrino has backed goalkeeper Fraser Forster after the Southampton goalkeeper was criticised for his performance in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle.
The blame was pointed at Forster for his role in Ayoze Perez’s goal for the Magpies, but his manager is convinced that his performance was just a blip.
Pellegrino told The Express: "The goalkeeper needs confidence.
"Three or four games ago everybody was saying he has to come back to the national team and is one of the best goalkeepers in England.
“I have the same opinion. Fraser is a really good goalkeeper.”
Pellegrino, a centre-back during his own playing career, believes that playing as a goalkeeper is a thankless task.
He said: "The position of the goalkeeper is always exposed in this type of situation but nobody remembers the good situations.
"Always when you make a couple of mistakes everybody will talk about this. This is part of our job. It is part of Fraser’s job.
“The important thing is how you react to this situation, how you achieve this moment.”
Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match against West Brom.
Italian forward Manolo Gabbiadini will be hoping to retain his place in attack after scoring both goals in last weekend’s 2-2 draw against Newcastle.
Full-back Jeremy Pied continues to work his way back to full fitness from a groin injury.
West Brom are hopeful either Ben Foster or Boaz Myhill will be fit to keep goal against Southampton at St Mary’s.
Foster missed the draw at Leicester with a knee injury so Myhill made his first Premier League start since April 2016 but finished the game hobbling around with a hamstring problem.
Both players trained on Thursday and it is hoped they will do so again on Friday before the squad travel to the south coast. James Morrison, Oliver Burke and Hal Robson-Kanu remain out with muscle injuries.
Keep up-to-date with all of the Premier League scores here.
Manchester United’s quest to close the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City continues this afternoon when they travel to newly promoted Huddersfield.
Meanwhile, City host Burnley at the Etihad - looking to build upon their emphatic 7-2 win over Stoke City last weekend.
You can follow the action from both of those matches and the other 3pm games as they happen with Sportsmail’s ANDY WARREN.
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