Yacob and Long start for Steve Clarke’s men
CLAUDIO Yacob and Shane Long return to Steve Clarke’s starting XI as the Baggies boss makes three changes to the side that lost 2-1 at Newcastle last Sunday.
The Argentina international midfielder missed the Baggies’ trip to St James’ Park last weekend after picking up a knock in the 2-1 home defeat by Manchester City a week earlier.
Long replaces Romelu Lukaku up front after recovering from a hamstring problem and Billy Jones comes in for Gabriel Tamas at right-back.
Club skipper Chris Brunt features on Albion’s bench after recuperating from a hamstring strain he suffered during the Baggies’ 1-1 draw at Villa Park in September.
ALBION: Foster; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Yacob, Mulumbu; Odemwingie, Gera, Dorrans; Long. Subs: Myhill (gk); Popov, Brunt, Lukaku, Rosenberg, Fortune, Tamas.
SOUTHAMPTON: Gazzaniga, Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Fox, Schneiderlin, S. Davis, Lallana (c), Ramírez, Lambert, Rodriguez. Subs: K. Davis (GK), Hooiveld, Ward-Prowse, Guly, Shaw, Mayuka, Puncheon.