Saints manager Nigel Adkins has confirmed that Adam Lallana and Jose Fonte will miss this weekend's trip to Aston Villa.

The pair are both suffering from knee injuries and are expected to each be sidelined for a few weeks.

Adkins would not go beyond discussing their availability for the trip to Villa Park on Saturday, but he did admit they would both miss the showdown with Saints' relegation rivals.

Gaston Ramirez is expected to return, having sat out the 5-1 FA Cup third round defeat to Chelsea last weekend with a dead leg, while right-back Nathaniel Clyne should also be ready to make his comeback from a knee problem.