RONALD Koeman is facing a huge striking dilemma as he bids to end the goal drought which is casting a big shadow over Saints’ European qualification hopes.

Saints have managed 65 efforts on goal in their last four games – but have only struck once in that time.

Koeman is currently preparing his side for this Saturday’s trip to West Bromwich Albion where Saints bid to improve on a record of just the one goal in their last 388 minutes of Premier League football.

Saints have netted just four goals in their last six league outings, with only Aston Villa – the lowest scorers in the top six tiers of the English game – having managed fewer (2).

As a result of picking up only four points from their last four games – three of which have been at St Mary’s – Koeman’s men have slipped out of the top four for the first time since December.

Though Saints remain just a point behind fourth-placed Manchester United, they are only two ahead of seventh-placed Tottenham.

Koeman does have options open to him at The Hawthorns, including the recalling of ex-Baggies striker Shane Long and Sadio Mane to the starting line-up.

Long has recovered from a ribs injury and would dearly love to start his first league game since December 20 against his former employers.

Mane was dropped from the team which started against Liverpool on Sunday after he was late arriving at St Mary’s.

A victim of his manager’s discipline, Mane nevertheless remains Saints’ best chance of a goal based on this season’s league statistics.

He is averaging a goal every 233 minutes, which might not sound hugely impressive but is actually the best ratio of any Saints player in 2014/15.

Top scorer Graziano Pelle, by comparison, is averaging a goal every 289 minutes.