STEVEN Caulker could return to the heart of the Saints defence tonight, after overcoming a sinus infection, while latest signing Oriol Romeu is also in contention to start.

Caulker missed last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Everton, but is available again to partner Jose Fonte at centre-half against Midtjylland.

Romeu, who signed in a £5m deal from Chelsea last week and came on at half-time against the Toffees, could make a first start for Saints in defensive midfield.

Manager Ronald Koeman said: “He’s fit enough. He had a normal pre-season.

“Of course he didn’t have really that intensity in the level of games in the friendlies, but he is ok, he is fit to play, he needs rhythm, game time, that’s for sure, but we will give him that.”

Koeman is expecting Midtjylland to be a tougher opponent than Vitesse were in the last round, describing their Moneyball-style approach – they are guided enormously in all their decision making by in-depth statistical analysis and other data – as “quite unique”.

Nearly half of the Danish champions’ goals from last season were scored from set-pieces, while Kian Hansen possesses a dangerous long throw, and the Saints boss is wary – if not unnerved – of their threat.

“Normally last season we were the best team in defending corner kicks and we know that they have a number two who has throw-ins like corner kicks and we need attention in that, because it is the most easy way to score a goal,” he said.

“You don’t need to create, it’s a long throw in, they have got headers, but we will have enough headers to win the battle.”

But Koeman did confirm he will encourage his players not to give away set-pieces and throw-ins near their own area.

“Of course,” he said. “Of course you have to do everything and don’t make the opponent stronger than they are “They have the qualities, they have the set pieces, they have the throw-ins and, of course, we need attention in that.”

Asked if that approach is a good tactic, Koeman said: “It’s using the qualities. I don’t like to mention it as tactical, but you use the qualities if you have tall people and tall players and you have somebody who throw-in like the distance of a corner kick – it’s dangerous, because if you bring in the box six, seven players then it’s difficult to have a good defence.

“It’s using the qualities and that’s the main job for the manager.”