Mikey may find three games in a week too much

By Hughie Southon

So we move into another massive match on the south coast on Wednesday night and the big question is how seriously David Moyes intends to take the FA Cup this season.

All the vibes I’ve been getting over recent days is very seriously indeed with many making it clear it really is time for the club to win something – word is the FA Cup has  become a serious option.

Southampton away in their current form is as tough as we would want with the south coast outfit losing just one of their last 12 games, winning five and taking a point each from the six others.

We, meanwhile, have lost two in our last 11, won six and drawn three – the stats say the two teams are almost inseparable.

The Cup’s different of course but on the face of it this game will be as tight as it gets and one player who perhaps we won’t see in claret and blue is Mikey Antonio who may well find three games in a week too much these days.

That will depend largely of course on how Moysie decides to approach the Liverpool match which if he is in defensive mode may rest the No 9 for that game.

Beyond that we are likely to see Alphonse Areola back in goal and a possible return for Diop alongside Zouma but given the performance of the team today I would see no other changes meaning no return for Benny Boy with Manu in fine form.

Should Mikey be rested I’d expect to see Vlasic alongside Bowen up front.