Jos Hooiveld expected to return for Southampton against Aston Villa

8:20am Friday 11th January 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Gordon Simpson, Senior Sports Reporter

JOS HOOIVELD JOS HOOIVELD

Jos Hooiveld is set to step into the shoes of the injured José Fonte at Aston Villa – and will be hoping his Premier League fortunes improve.

The Dutch centre half is the obvious replacement for Fonte, who is sidelined with a knee injury that he sustained in last week’s FA Cup defeat to Chelsea.

Hooiveld was a regular in the Saints side during last year’s Championship promotion campaign, but has been relegated to the role of a bit-part player this term.

He has started six league matches this season, but is yet to taste victory in any of those, with five ending in defeat and one a draw.

Hooiveld played in Saints’ first four games of the campaign – all defeats – as the club were dealt a slew of cruel fixtures on their return to the top flight.

He was forced off in the early stages of the 6-1 defeat to Arsenal in mid-September and lost his place in the side to Maya Yoshida.

The only two games he has started since were the 4-1 loss at West Ham in October and the 3-3 draw at Stoke just after Christmas.

However, the 29-year-old will again have the chance to stake a claim for a place when Saints travel to the Midlands tomorrow for a showdown with relegation rivals Aston Villa.

As reported by the Daily Echo this week, Fonte is due to be sidelined for a number of weeks.

Manager Nigel Adkins confirmed that the Portuguese defender would miss the trip to Villa Park, but refused to comment further on the extent of his injury yesterday.

Adkins also admitted that captain Adam Lallana would be absent again, as he continues to be kept out by the knee injury suffered against Reading on December 8.

Comments(20)

mbetts says...
8:24am Fri 11 Jan 13

More than able replacement, it's not like we're asking a right back to cover at centre back, it's his position, and he's very experienced.

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Puddletown Saint says...
8:44am Fri 11 Jan 13

Lets hope Hoover and the rest of the lads have a stormer. Bit nervous though.......... COYR

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Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
8:51am Fri 11 Jan 13

He can do it. I smell three points.

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Clever Dick says...
9:03am Fri 11 Jan 13

Time for Jos to step up to the plate in the same way Fonte has. Has been a bit unlucky with own goals etc. but now has the chance to become a hero. Come on Jos !! A goal from a corner would be ok too if you can manage it.

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Mush On The Beach says...
9:16am Fri 11 Jan 13

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
He can do it. I smell three points.
I remember the ever reliable Paul McGrath turning up for Villa at the Dell once and having a mare, he smelt of 3 pints.
More of the same tomorrow please Villa.

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saintlysoul says...
9:16am Fri 11 Jan 13

Oh dear! Good news for Villa though at least they will have someone on the pitch who'll be able to score for them!

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warrens 76 says...
9:18am Fri 11 Jan 13

I commented last season that we do not get many goals from corners and set pieces from our CB's, if they could pop in half a dozen each a la Adams, Bruce, Chris Nichol etc it would be a huge benefit...

...having said that I recall the ball went almost always up in the air and caused panic in our area whenever they attempted a headed clearance, so a bit of wishful thinking.

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Dickosfc says...
9:21am Fri 11 Jan 13

You can do it tomorrow Jos!! Trust in your ability and put in the work rate. We need one hell of a shift from you tomorrow. This game is massive for us!!!

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Alicesdad says...
9:22am Fri 11 Jan 13

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
He can do it. I smell three points.
Of course he can do it. This time last year we wouldn't have considered any other player. He has the experience and capability.

The first few matches of this season were nervy for everyone and he made a few errors giving away a couple of penalties. But frankly I think the step up was a big jump for him just like it was for Fonte. Fonte has grown in stature in recent weeks and so can Jos.

I think he can, and will, step up and do a good job. I think three points is realistic.

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Velleity says...
9:29am Fri 11 Jan 13

Step up to it Jos - you've got it in you. A good game tomorrow will lift your chin and you stand a good chance of getting back to last year's form.

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SO50 Saint says...
9:46am Fri 11 Jan 13

Gotta be a good bet for first goalscorer considering the goals Villa let in 2nd half against Bradford

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gazw1976 says...
10:04am Fri 11 Jan 13

got to feel sorry for Hoover most of the time he was covering Fox going missing as well as his own job , the guy has played champions league so he can do it in the prem

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SaintMax says...
10:08am Fri 11 Jan 13

He will do a good job tomorrow as long as he doesn't jump in irrationally in the penalty area. I'd also sot jack crock in front of the CBs to break up play and cover if they are slow on the turn..
But what do I know.. I've got good feelings bout this game.
2-3

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Pogle says...
10:36am Fri 11 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
Oh dear! Good news for Villa though at least they will have someone on the pitch who'll be able to score for them!
Rsoul does spring to mind!

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OSPREYSAINT says...
11:59am Fri 11 Jan 13

A fit, happy motivated Hoover is as good as anything we have got in the squad, with a bit of confidence and not without a little luck and he will be more than adequate.

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SaintJD says...
12:43pm Fri 11 Jan 13

Pogle wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Oh dear! Good news for Villa though at least they will have someone on the pitch who'll be able to score for them!
Rsoul does spring to mind!
Or realistic soul maybe.

Hope he does well and steps up - would be delighted if he did - but I thought that when Davis returned.

Sometimes players are just slightly too slow in body and mind to cope at this level and, though he has been slightly unlucky with the own-goals, both they and the penalties are mostly the result of him reacting that split second too slowly at this level.

Obviously I still cheer the lad on at the top of my voice, mistakes or no mistakes he gives his all. He won't let us down from an attitude perspective and he's a great professional, but let's not pretend we could have done with getting someone in before this game.

I hope that them getting Vlaar and Gabby back, coupled with us losing some of our best players, isn't going to tip the balance, because this is an evenly matched game.

Quite fancy J Rod to score if he gets on though, he's been showing some quality signs recently.

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right back in the bar says...
1:49pm Fri 11 Jan 13

gave it all in the games he played in this season but lost his composure at key moments but good players don't just become poor players; he needs this game to restore confidence and self belief.

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hates the skates says...
6:40pm Fri 11 Jan 13

heres to hoping he dosent fu@k up but if he does and we lose with the next run of games we got i can see us getting relegated if tommorows esult goes against us and i will be the first to be giving a certain mr C a piece of my mind for not signing a defender to cover for jose already.

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loosehead says...
9:07pm Fri 11 Jan 13

If he's back does that mean another own goal?
Reading has bought new defenders what or who have we bought?

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OSPREYSAINT says...
9:42pm Fri 11 Jan 13

loosehead wrote:
If he's back does that mean another own goal?
Reading has bought new defenders what or who have we bought?
Reading havesigned FB Stephen Kelly from Fulham, not exactly a World beater, and CB Daniel Carrico, don't know much about him.

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