Good timing loaning out Matt Targett…
From the OS:
Mauricio Pellegrino confirms that Maya Yoshida has resumed full training, after a two week spell on the sidelines, while Shane Long has recovered from a brief illness.
The manager has been without deputy captain, Yoshida for previous ties with Watford and Tottenham, but the Japanese international is poised to return to the fold as Saints look to progress in the Emirates FA Cup this weekend.
Young full-back Sam McQueen will be unlikely to feature , while Charlie Austin’s lengthy absence is ongoing, following a hamstring problem.
Pellegrino said: "Sam McQueen has been training alone, okay, Charlie Austin will continue with his own treatment.
"Maya is now 100 per cent fit and been training with the team. No more news other than that.
“With Charlie we’ve got a long period of time, more than ten weeks from when the injury was sustained. He isn’t training, but when he comes back on the pitch we’ll have a clearer idea of time.”
The manager subsequently confirmed that the club are actively pursuing additional forward options, following the loss of Austin to injury.
Correspondingly, after teenage striker Michael Obafemi made his senior debut a week ago, Pellegrino also commented on a possible inclusion of the youngster against Watford: "With Michael it is just the beginning, this week he has been training with the first-team. But now Shane Long is back.
“Michael is still working with us, to try to be more connected with the squad. But we want to try to test him in the reserves to see how well he competes. I want him to be ready, because you never know.”