Saints stopper in race to face Villa

Southampton look set to be without influential central defender Jos Hooiveld for Saturday's clash with Aston Villa at St Mary's.

The Dutch stopper is still battling to shake off the calf injury which forced him off during Saturday's disastrous 6-1 thrashing at Arsenal.
Hooiveld had been struggling with the problem before the Gunners' trip, but boss Nigel Adkins felt he could get through the game at the Emirates.
As a result the former Celtic man is now struggling to make the Villa clash as the Saints bid to collect their first Premier League point of the season at the fifth time of asking.
If Hooiveld fails to make the game then Japan international defender Maya Yoshida could get his first full start for the Saints after stepping off the bench at Arsenal to play despite only having one training session with his new team-mates and enduring a long journey back to England from international duty.
Adkins' only other options to start alongside Jose Fonte are the out of favour Dan Seaborne and teenager Jack Stephens, whose experience of first-team action so far has come with a handful of lower leagues games for Plymouth.