Shane Long will be handed the chance to stake his claim for an extended run in the Saints side with Ronald Koeman placing his faith in the striker to replace Graziano Pelle at Manchester City.

The Republic of Ireland star has had to wait patiently for the chance to play in his preferred position as a central striker, but Pelle’s one game ban means he will get an opportunity to impress at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow.

Koeman admits Saints may have to play less direct balls with Long in the side, but feels for this particular game a quick counter attacking option could work.

“It depends the way the opponent is defending,” he said. “You know you play away against City, they are a strong team, and maybe it will be a little bit more counter because they play home and they will come.

“In that situation if you have fast people in front it can be dangerous from them.

“The style will be the same, that we try to play football, to build up from the back, but of course in direct play it needs to be changed a little bit.

“I think that’s also football that you realise the qualities of the rest of the players.

“What’s the best qualities of each player and give them that support, and that’s different comparing Pelle to Shane Long.”

Of Pelle’s absence he added: “Always you are missing a player who normally always starts the game.

“It’s the top scorer in the team, but last season we played without Graziano at Chelsea away and we had a good result.

“I still remember what John Terry mentioned after the game that he found it so tough to play against Shane Long.

“It’s a different player with different qualities but also a very dangerous front player, we know.”

That Chelsea display not only saw a stellar performance from Long, but also Sadio Mane who played off of the main striker in a deeper but more central role.

Mane is fit again after starting the Stoke defeat on the bench following a slight ankle problem picked up during international duty.

“He’s fit. He did all week all the sessions and he’s ready,” said Koeman of Mane.

“I think Sadio is different to Shane. Sadio can play all the three positions in front – he can play left, he can play right. He’s more a wing player than Shane is. Shane is normally one of the strikers or the two strikers, and normally has a little bit more problems in his position on the left or the right side. It’s different.

“They need freedom to have the movements, and we try.”

Koeman admits he doesn’t have many options when it comes to replacing Pelle, but wants Long striker to give the absent Italian a run for his money, even if it is more likely he will return to the team on Wednesday.

“If you look to the squad it’s not so difficult because we don’t have ten front players, we have less. We have Ramirez back, we have Tadic, we have Mane, we have Long and we have Juanmi.

“I think Shane also can play on the side of Graziano and it’s all about the performance of the player.

“I hope I will answer your question after Saturday when he is hero of the game.

“Maybe it’s good competition for Pelle to play better than he did the last two games.”