Adam Lallana worried about Southampton's poor start to season

 

Southampton captain Adam Lallana has revealed the club's current plight keeps him awake at night.

The Saints have won just once in the Barclays Premier League this season and sit bottom of the table going into tonight's match at West Brom.

Lallana, 24, has just celebrated the birth of his son but admits it is the thought of a poor performance that is not allowing him a good night's sleep.

"Of course, after a game the adrenaline is flowing and I lie awake, thinking what else we could have done," he said.

"We are coming into a run of games where we can get points, and we have to - it is just about tweaking a few things and getting that right result.

"In any case, I want to do well for my (son) Arthur, so when he grows up he will be watching the Premier League - not Championship football."

Saints manager Nigel Adkins will welcome record-signing Gaston Ramirez back into the squad and could bring him straight back into the side at The Hawthorns.

Southampton spent big in the summer on their return to the Premier League, breaking their transfer record twice in a matter of months.

Jay Rodriguez was signed from Burnley for a reported £7million before Uruguayan playmaker Ramirez was brought in for closer to £12million on transfer deadline day.

The former Bologna star has been missing for the past couple of weeks with a thigh injury but is now ready to return for Adkins' side.

"A big plus for us is that Gaston Ramirez, our record signing, is back training well this week and we would like to think that he will be included on Monday evening," he said.

"We have a number of players returning from injury now and we can look forward with confidence and embrace the challenge that we are faced with."

Despite being confident that his fully-fit squad can cope with the rigours of Premier League football Adkins feels Southampton are coming up against a strong West Brom outfit.

"West Brom have a good record at home - they are a solid side who are very good on the counter attack," he said.

"They have been in the Premier League before having yo-yoed a little bit but they look a very well run, well-managed football club.

"They have a way of playing which suits them, they have a good manager there and some good football players."

PA

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