Shane Long looks set to miss Saints’ trip to Wolves through injury.

The Republic of Ireland forward has been unable to train this week due to a toe problem, and is classed as a major doubt to make the team for the trip to Molineux.

“We’ve only got a doubt with Shane Long at the moment,” reported Saints boss Mark Hughes.

“He’s got an issue with his toe.

“He hasn’t trained this week and he’s a big doubt for the weekend.”

One major bonus for Saints will be the return of Danny Ings.

The striker was forced to miss the defeat at Liverpool due to being on loan from Anfield this season, but has used his enforced fortnight out of action well with Hughes confident he is in better shape than ever to come into the team at the weekend and add to his three goals.

“It was a loss for us last week clearly because Danny has brought a little bit of an edge and a cutting edge in terms of what he brings at the top end of the pitch,” said Hughes.

“His ball retention and ability to bring people into the game was something we lacked.

“You are always going to miss a player of the quality of Danny.

“We missed him and he’s benefitted. Leading into the Wolves game he will have had two weeks of solid work.

“Before that the games he’s played he’s had fragmented time with the blister he’s had.

“These two weeks have been his best weeks of training leading into a game.

“He’s raring to go.”

He added: “He was scoring goals before the continuity and work of the last two weeks.

“If he’s doing that without being quite at the level of fitness we know he’s capable of then you’d like to think as he gets fitter, stronger, better understanding of what we’re doing and his teammates.”