Southampton v Watford preview: Virgil van Dijk unavailable but Wesley Hoedt could feature

Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk is short of match fitness but new signing Wesley Hoedt could make his debut when Watford visit St Mary's on Saturday.

Saints successfully kept van Dijk over the summer despite his transfer request and interest from Champions League clubs and the Dutchman has since returned to first-team training.

But he has not played a competitive match since January due to a long-term ankle injury and Mauricio Pellegrino is yet to make a decision on when to reintroduce him into the match-day squad.

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The Southampton head coach expects visitors Watford to provide stiff opposition, saying: "Every team in the Premier League is really tough. In one second you can lose or you can win and we have to prepare for these moments.

"Watford are really tough, an intelligent team. They have a good rhythm, dangerous attacking players and big players at set-plays.

"In counter attack they are very fast, very quick, and we need to be there 100 per cent to have our chances. I think we will compete."

Hoedt, a summer arrival from Lazio, could make his first appearance for his new club, who have won one and drawn two of their opening three Premier League games.

Watford have an identical record after they earned a goalless draw at home to Brighton in their previous fixture before the international break.

Marco Silva could hand a first league start to captain Troy Deeney after he played 45 minutes in a 4-2 victory against Millwall in a behind-closed-doors friendly last week.

"We are happy with him, he's our captain," said Silva. "We want to get him to a good level to help the team, like he did last season.

"He's happy to stay here, to compete and play in our team. He worked hard in the break like the other players. We did a friendly match to get some minutes in their legs.

"His physical condition starts to go up. It's our job to put him into a good level to help the team."

Team news

Pellegrino has reported no fresh injury worries ahead of Watford's visit.

Hoedt could make his debut having been an unused substitute in the goalless draw at Huddersfield before the international break following his move from Lazio.

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Watford could be boosted by the return of Younes Kaboul and Daryl Janmaat for their Premier League trip to Southampton.

The defensive duo were both injured in the club's opening-day draw against Liverpool. Sebastian Prodl will be assessed on Friday after he limped off in Austria's World Cup qualifier against Wales.

Miguel Britos (suspended), Craig Cathcart and Mauro Zarate (both knee) are unavailable.

Opta stats

Southampton are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches against Watford (W3 D2), since losing their first PL encounter, 2-3 at Vicarage Road in December 1999.

Watford have used 21 different players in their opening three Premier League games of 2017-18, more than any other team in the competition.

Southampton have failed to score in eight of their last 11 Premier League matches, including two of their three games so far in 2017-18. In fact, since the start of 2015-16, Southampton have recorded more 0-0 draws than any other Premier League team (12).

This will be the fifth consecutive league meeting at St. Mary's between these sides in which a different manager has been in each dugout - Aidy Boothroyd and Jan Poortvliet in October 2008, Sean Dyche and Nigel Adkins in October 2011, Quique Flores and Ronald Koeman in January 2016, Walter Mazzarri and Claude Puel in August 2016 and Marco Silva and Mauricio Pellegrino this season.

Marco Silva will be looking to win back to back league away games as a manager for the first time since April 2016, whilst boss of Greek side Olympiakos.

In their 0-0 draw with Brighton on MD3, Heurelho Gomes kept his 50th Premier League clean sheet; the first South American goalkeeper to reach this landmark.

Nathan Redmond has had a hand in five goals in his last three Premier League games against Watford, scoring four goals and assisting one.

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Merson's prediction

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Watford did well against Brighton last time out because playing with 10 men for that long in the Premier League is not easy. I watched them rip Bournemouth apart - they've started the season really well.

However, Southampton are a difficult side to beat at St Mary's and home advantage should make all the difference, helping Pellegrino's side to their second win of the season.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 (11/2 with Sky Bet)

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