Saints will be without Jordy Clasie for the festive period after the Dutch midfielder picked up a groin strain.

Clasie is likely to be sidelined for around ten days, which almost certainly means he won’t be able to figure in the triple header against Tottenham, West Brom and Everton.

It is bad timing for Clasie, who was just starting to hit a fine run of attacking form, though Saints do have Oriol Romeu back from suspension to face Spurs.

Saints boss Claude Puel confirmed: “I don’t know for the moment (how long Clasie will be out). Perhaps around ten days. I hope.

“He come back the last game with a good level, a good possibility and he can make progress with his control in front, with possibility to shoot.

“For the first time he give an assist for Jay and he score against Arsenal.

“This is new for him and I would like all the midfield to score, to give assists and to bring more in our offensive play.

“This is important for the future and they have all the technical qualities, the good attitude, to make this progress.

“For me it’s important all the players can score on all the position and this is important for me. Not just the strikers or offensive player but midfielders, defenders, full backs. All the players can score and this is a mentality and it’s important to make progress about this.”