Shane Long will be fit enough to face Newcastle on Sunday after overcoming an injury.

The Saints striker looked to be a doubt for the game at St Mary’s after picking up an injury on international duty with the Republic of Ireland.

However, Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino confirmed that Long has been able to train at full tilt with the rest of the squad, and is available for selection.

Pellegrino said: “I think so. He was training today 100 per cent. He is much better.

“I think he will be ready.”

The manager has a clean bill of health for Newcastle with his 12 first team players that were away on international duty all returning fit and healthy.

“All of them are ok,” said a relieved Pellegrino.

“Most of them didn’t play the second game – Mario, Fraser, Ryan, Shane, Davis, the second game were more or less had time to recover properly and I think they will be ready, most of them.

“When you go to international senior teams and you are playing important games it is something you have to be there focussed 100 per cent and when they come back you don’t know how they will react.

“The conclusion for me is that I have to know how is the evolution of them between the international break and a Premier League game and not everybody reacts in the same way.

“Not everybody reacts in the same way and some are more prepared to play more games.

“In this situation I think all of them are prepared.”