FLYNN Downes is set to be apart of the Southampton squad for the first time in three gameweeks vs Brighton as he and Ivan Juric make amends after falling out.
Downes, who has been unavailable for the last three games amid reports surrounding him wanting to leave the club and join Ipswich Town in January is now back available for the first team squad.
Juric announced that he is willing to look past the fall out and is happy to have him back in the squad in what is a vital few months for the club who currently sit rock bottom of the Premier League.
He said: “Even after everything that has happened, I think what I thought when he came here. He is a good guy, good player and is fit and training well”
However even with the encouragement of Downes rejoining the squad, Saints are edging closer and closer to a swift return to the championship after a 3-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth last week.
Despite the recent win over relegation rival Ipswich Town three weeks ago, Saints are yet to rejuvenate their season with the club yet to surpass double figure points in the season with Juric looking struck for idea’s with his squad.
And after being knocked out of the FA cup by championship side Burnley, it really looks like a season to forget for the side from Hampshire.
Saints will be without both Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Adam Lallana who both occupy a treatment room table while there is till no sign of Striker Ross Stewart who is yet to play a full 90 minutes for the club since signing in the summer 2023 from Sunderland.
However, centre-half and club captain Jack Stephens is back and ready for action.
Whereas, the Seagulls are high flying after dismantling Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea 3-0 at the Amex Stadium on Valentines Day.
Coming into the game both Pervis Estupinan and Solly March have been cleared by manager Fabian Hurzeler to play tomorrow as “an option” whereas captain Lewis Dunk is “Doubtful” and could be out of action for a while.
Hurzeler said: “It’s an issue where I can’t say it will take two weeks three weeks.”
“At the moment he has a lot of pain we have to go day by day. It’s an area near the ribs”
Despite both teams coming into this game with different mindsets surrounding their league ambitions, Brighton’s poor record against teams in the bottom half of the Premier League might give Southampton some hope to hold on to as the two teams clash tomorrow.
The seagulls have won 46% of all ties against teams in the top half of the division compared to a mere 25% against opposition in the lower half.
And after the two teams played out a 1-1 draw at the Amex at the end of November, Saints will be hoping to go one better and bring home all three points for only the second time at home all season.
But with Saints not able to beat Brighton since Danny Ings’ winning penalty at the Amex in December 2020 and the Seagulls holding a six game unbeaten run against the home side. Ivan Juric will have a tough test on his hands.
