Ryan Fraser in, 4-3-3: The predicted Southampton FC XI to face Preston

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·23 October 2023

Ryan Fraser in, 4-3-3: The predicted Southampton FC XI to face Preston

Highlights

Southampton are facing an out-of-form Preston North End in a top-six clash.
Southampton has improved with four games unbeaten, while Preston has gone winless in their last five Championship matches.
Southampton's predicted lineup includes consistent performers like Gavin Bazunu, Kyle Walker-Peters, and Stuart Armstrong, who could be key in winning the midfield battle.

Southampton travel to Deepdale on Wednesday night where they will face an out-of-form Preston North End.

This top six clash sees fourth placed Preston take on fifth placed Southampton.

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Preston got their season off to a blistering start but are now winless in their last five Championship encounters, whilst the Saints did struggle for early season form but are now four games unbeaten.

Southampton boss Russell Martin has been given somewhat of a selection headache given that left back Ryan Manning is unavailable after picking up a one match suspension.

GK - Gavin Bazunu

The Republic of Ireland international has started every Championship game for the Saints this season so far.

Despite the fact he has only kept one clean sheet this season, it is difficult to see why Russell Martin would drop his ever-present number one.

LB - Kyle Walker-Peters

Kyle Walker-Peters on the ball

The former Spurs man is another one of Martin's ever presents.

He is often a handful for opposition defenders so a leaky Preston North End backline could find his overlapping runs tricky to deal with.

Against Preston on Wednesday he is likely to feature on the left-hand side rather than his favoured right back position due to the suspension of usual left-back Ryan Manning. Walker-Peters is used to being deployed in the left back role when necessary.

CB - Taylor Harwood-Bellis

The Manchester City loanee is a key component to Russell Martin's ethos of playing out from the back with an impressive passing accuracy of 90%

CB - Jan Bednarek

Likewise to his defensive partner, Jan Bednarek is one of the finest ball-playing centre halves in the Championship with the league's fifth highest ratio of successful passes per 90 minutes.

RB - James Bree

Ryan Manning's suspension which comes after he accumulated too many yellow cards could prove costly for the Saints.

However it does present former Luton star James Bree the possibility of being named in Southampton's starting XI for the first time this season.

CM - Stuart Armstrong

Mr consistent.

A metronome in the middle of the park for Southampton and someone who could hold the key to winning the midfield battle on Wednesday night.

CM - Flynn Downes

Another disciple of Russell Martin's footballing philosophy.

Downes has a 95% pass accuracy this season so if he is to produce a misplaced pass vs Preston it will truly be a collectors' item.

CM - Will Smallbone

Still a young academy graduate but now a man who has really come into the fold this season and is showing he is one of the second tier's hottest prospects.

His performances this season have earned him a place in the Republic of Ireland squad for both of the past two international breaks.

LW - Ryan Fraser

After scoring the Saints' last minute winner at Hull in a six minute cameo, the former Bournemouth man has made a very strong case for first team selection to his new gaffer Russell Martin.