Southampton team news: Latest squad updates and injury latest ahead of visit of Manchester United

Mark Hughes will be without Danny Ings and is sweating on the fitness of Ryan Bertrand as he battles to save his job

Southampton will again be without forward Danny Ings for the visit of Manchester United.

On-loan Liverpool forward Ings has been carrying a hamstring problem, which saw him miss both last weekend's defeat at Fulham and the EFL Cup exit at Leicester City in midweek.

The absence of Ings – who has scored four Premier League goals since his arrival at St Mary’s in August – is a further blow to manager Mark Hughes, whose future is the subject of intense speculation as Southampton desperately attempt to end an 11-game winless run in all competitions.

England international defender Ryan Bertrand is struggling with a back issue which has kept him out of full training, so will be assessed, while striker Shane Long continues treatment on his ankle injury.

Provisional squad: McCarthy, Soares, Yoshida, Hoedt, Targett, Armstrong, Lemina, Redmond, Hojbjerg, Austin, Gabbiadini, Gunn, Vestergaard, Stephens, Davis, Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse, Obafemi, Bertrand.