Cédric (ankle) and Hoedt (concussion) both missed Tuesday’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace, while striker Charlie Austin (hamstring) is a long-term absentee.
Now Pied is also unavailable for the third round tie at Craven Cottage, but Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has vowed to pick his strongest possible line-up.
“Outside the squad we’ve got Cédric, Charlie Austin, Jérémy Pied and Wesley Hoedt,” said Pellegrino. “Those four players won’t be available for us.
“I will try to play my best XI to win this game. Sometimes the players have to understand that as a manager I have to make decisions.
“The equation is simple – I want the best for the club and the players have to be professional. We are 25 players, not 11, and most of them have had their opportunity.
“Saturday is another opportunity and I will use this game as a reference to try to move one step forward.”
Pellegrino added that Alex McCarthy will keep his place in goal, having started the last two Premier League games against Palace and Manchester United.
Mauricio Pellegrino has praised Theo Walcott amid reports that the winger is seeking a return to Southampton, but the Saints boss refused to comment on the speculation.
Southampton have emerged as favourites to sign Arsenal’s out-of-favour winger and Sky Sports News understands that talks are expected between the club and Walcott’s representatives in the coming weeks.
The England international, who came through the youth system at Southampton before moving to Arsenal in 2006 as a 16-year-old, is thought to be willing to take a wage cut in order to complete a deal.
Pellegrino hinted the club are looking to sign someone who wants to join them and has not ruled out Saints’ interest in Walcott, but refused to comment on the player’s future.
“There are many players that we have interest in,” he said. "I can’t say anything because, obviously Walcott is an excellent player, but I can’t confirm this.
"We are in the market ready to try to bring somebody that wants to come but I know it will be difficult.
"In January it is not easy to bring in players but the market is huge and I think we will have some opportunities.
"We have got a couple of targets, four, five, six targets. We have confidence that someone else can come and it will be great for us.
“We are looking for a player that can improve the level of the squad. In the market you never know until the end.”
The Saints are without a win in their last nine Premier League matches and are perched perilously above the relegation zone in 17th, ahead of Stoke on goal difference.
However, under-fire Pellegrino has received the vote of confidence from Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger and the Argentine manager admits he is “lucky” to have the backing of the club.
“I am a lucky guy because these people trust in me and because I am in a really good club,” Pellegrino said.
"This situation, I feel, is a big opportunity because we are working in the base of the squad and to be stronger from this difficult moment.
"Sometimes you are stronger when you past this period of time.
“I want to try and make the people proud of the team but now everybody has to be supportive.”
| Southampton team news: Fulham (A) | Southampton face Fulham in the FA Cup this weekend and are set to be without a number of key defenders for the trip … 04-01-2018 |
Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger has been dining with players in a bid to arrest their recent slump, under-pressure manager Mauricio Pellegrino has revealed.
Saints have plummeted to 17th in the Premier League table following a nine-game winless streak stretching back to the end of November.
Pellegrino has faced supporter unrest at St Mary’s in recent games, but earlier this week received the backing of Krueger.
He insists the former professional ice hockey coach has always been helpful and has been spending time with Saints’ squad in an attempt to spark an upturn in results, starting with Saturday’s FA Cup clash at Fulham.
‘For me, the club and the board from the first day has been really supportive - not (only) right now, from the first day,’ Pellegrino said.
'Everybody has been really good, not with me, with everybody, with the players.
'Now the chairman is eating with the players, watching every single moment because he wants to help. Les Reed (vice-chairman of football) and Ross Wilson (director of football operations) too.
‘Everybody in this club works with a unity but sometimes the results are part of life and when you play a game, you have to be ready to lose; if you’re not, don’t play.’
Saints last tasted success with a 4-1 win over Everton on November 26.
Since then they have taken just four points from a possible 27, including two from four games over the festive period, to leave them on the brink of the bottom three.
Former Alaves coach Pellegrino, appointed on a three-year deal during the summer, has consequently seen his position come under intense scrutiny.
However, he once again played down the pressure currently on him and feels he is his own worst critic.
‘My higher pressure is with my own self. I am really demanding with myself,’ the Argentinian said.
'In my life I have been playing on the top, in second, in the third, in the 20th, in the 18th, in different places.
‘And the equation is the same; when you lose, you have to win, when you draw, you have to win, when you win, you have to win again. It’s always more or less the same.’
Though under-pressure Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino remained coy on reports linking Saints to a move for Arsenal’s Theo Walcott, he said chairman Ralph Krueger has been dining with players in a bid to arrest their recent slump.
Saints have plummeted to 17th in the Premier League table following a nine-game winless streak stretching back to the end of November.
And Pellegrino would not rule out a potential return to St Mary’s for Walcott, who began his professional career with Southampton before moving to Arsenal in 2006, and had words of praise for the winger.
“There are many players that we have interest in,” he said. "I can’t say anything because, obviously Walcott is an excellent player, but I can’t confirm this.
"We are in the market ready to try to bring somebody that wants to come but I know it will be difficult. In January it is not easy to bring in players but the market is huge and I think we will have some opportunities.
"We have got a couple of targets, four, five, six targets. We have confidence that someone else can come and it will be great for us.
“We are looking for a player that can improve the level of the squad. In the market you never know until the end.”
Pellegrino has faced supporter unrest at St Mary’s in recent games, but earlier this week received the backing of Krueger.
He insists the former professional ice hockey coach has always been helpful and has been spending time with Saints’ squad in an attempt to spark an upturn in results, starting with Saturday’s FA Cup clash at Fulham.
"For me, the club and the board from the first day has been really supportive – not [only] right now, from the first day,’’ Pellegrino said. "Everybody has been really good, not with me, with everybody, with the players.
"Now the chairman is eating with the players, watching every single moment because he wants to help. Les Reed [vice-chairman of football] and Ross Wilson [director of football operations] too.
"Everybody in this club works with a unity but sometimes the results are part of life and when you play a game, you have to be ready to lose; if you’re not, don’t play.’’
Saints last tasted success with a 4-1 win over Everton on Nov. 26. Since then they have taken just four points from a possible 27, including two from four games over the festive period, to leave them on the brink of the bottom three.
Former Alaves coach Pellegrino, appointed on a three-year deal during the summer, has consequently seen his position come under intense scrutiny.
However, he once again played down the pressure currently on him and feels he is his own worst critic.
“My higher pressure is with my own self. I am really demanding with myself,” the Argentine said. "In my life I have been playing on the top, in second, in the third, in the 20th, in the 18th, in different places.
“And the equation is the same; when you lose, you have to win, when you draw, you have to win, when you win, you have to win again. It’s always more or less the same.”
Information from Press Association Sport was used in this report.
| 
| 
-second round-up from 
| 
army ! 
| 
| 
| 