And whilst the Cherries have scored a league-high eight goals inside the opening 15 minutes this season, Howe’s men have scored just eight goals in total in their last 10 league matches.
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“I still think he is young enough and the end of this season could be really important for him because England aren’t blessed with a huge array of strikers to pick from”. I think he’s 50-50.
“We were still working day-to-day thinking the embargo could be lifted but we had no chance”.
Koeman must decide whether to recall Pelle, who ran rampant over Bournemouth in their 2-0 defeat at St Mary’s in the reverse fixture, or if Austin is fit enough to start two matches in four days. “The end of this season is going to be important for him”.
Only a transfer embargo prevented Howe signing Austin for Bournemouth in League Two following a pre-season trial back in 2009.
“We still keep a very close eye on his career because he is someone we admire greatly as a goalscorer”.
Howe will hand Lewis Grabban a late fitness test ahead of hosting Saints on Tuesday, the striker making “good progress” in fighting to beat a groin strain. Long has had to wait patiently, never moaning about his lack of first-team action or being a disruptive influence in the dressing-room, and is now finally reaping his reward.
Junior Stanislas is expected to be missing for Bournemouth with hamstring trouble.
Southampton suffered a dramatic late defeat to Chelsea on Saturday and Cedric Soares is glad to have a chance to respond at AFC Bournemouth.
Named then as Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic, the Cherries took back-to-back victories over their south coast rivals in the Division Three South, before Saints claimed victory in six of the next nine meetings.
For the Saints, Long was withdrawn midway through the second half with a hamstring injury, while Jay Rodriguez and Florin Gardos are still short of match fitness.
“Eddie Howe is doing a fantastic job”.
They try to create offensively. “He is supplemented by a very good squad around him and they will play to his strengths as well by getting balls into the box so I see no reason why he can not excel for Southampton”.
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“Southampton’s New Year surge was halted by Chelsea, but the top six and European football is a very realistic target for a team which I fancy for a strong finish and has a fine defensive record on the road”.
