The man with just 24 minutes of first team football since October could be called upon to try and stop player of the year Gareth Bale.

Frazer Richardson hasn’t started for Saints in virtually seven months.

But he is in with a shout of a recall as Mauricio Pochettino weighs up his selection dilemma ahead of the trip to face Tottenham.

Left back Danny Fox is suspended for the game at White Hart Lane following his red card against West Brom, while Luke Shaw remains touch and go to be fit following an ankle injury.

If Shaw fails to make it then it leaves Pochettino without a recognised left back as his side face a team with some of the best wide players in the Premier League.

The manager himself hinted at the likelihood of switching Nathaniel Clyne from right back over to the left to plug the gap. Clyne has proven his versatility in changing to that role already this season.

That though would leave a gap at right back – and the role of marking former Saints star Gareth Bale, who this week scooped both the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards.

Richardson is the obvious candidate as he is a recognised right back.

However, his lack of game time will be a concern.

His last Saints start came on October 7 as Saints drew 2-2 with Fulham.

Since then he has made just two substitute appearances, coming on for the final five minutes as Saints drew 2-2 with Stoke at the Britannia Stadium in December and playing the final 19 minutes as Saints defeated Man City 3-1 in February.

Pochettino’s other right back options would be to switch Jack Cork into that position and partner Steven Davis alongside Morgan Schneiderlin in the centre of midfield. Alternatively he could field one of his centre halves in that role.

“It’s always a problem when you have one player injured and another banned in the same position,” said Pochettino of the left back issue he faces.“Clyne has played in that position before so perhaps we will stick him over there.”