Norwich v Southampton - preview

TEAM NEWS

Norwich defender Andre Wisdom could be back after a hamstring injury but midfielder Matt Jarvis remains out with a knee injury.

Manager Alex Neil has no other injury worries but is likely to rotate his squad after a busy festive period.

Southampton midfielder Oriel Romeu is banned after picking up a fifth yellow card in the defeat at West Ham.

Top scorer Graziano Pelle and full-back Cedric both remain out with knee and groin injuries respectively.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Martin Fisher: "Norwich should go into 2016 quietly confident. Twenty points at the halfway stage means they're on target for Premier League survival.

"In the likes of Wes Hoolahan, Robbie Brady and Nathan Redmond, they have star quality. They lack a prolific striker but it's a problem shared by their relegation rivals and I'm sure their impressive manager Alex Neil will look to address it in the transfer window.

"All in all I think Norwich will stay up.

"No such concerns for Southampton - well, there shouldn't be, but their form has declined significantly since October.

"The 4-0 thumping of Arsenal on Boxing Day shines like a beacon alongside far too many recent defeats.

"A good January will dispel any doubts otherwise Saints could spend the spring anxiously looking over their shoulders."

Twitter: @mfisherfootball 

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Norwich manager Alex Neil: "We've been disappointed in a few games, so we want to limit that from now on. We want to get wins on the board quickly so we can start looking up the table instead of down.

"At Southampton, we didn't play well at all and Steven Whittaker getting sent off made it doubly difficult for us. Hopefully we can give a true reflection of our team this time around with a better performance."

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman: "I'm expecting a difficult game. I was watching the game they played last, against Aston Villa at home, and they are strong.

"They have a confidence now that they can beat teams. They won away against Manchester United, and that gives teams like Norwich a big belief and a big confidence to battle to stay in the Premier League. That's one of the reasons why it's a difficult game.

"They are fighting to keep their position in the Premier League. They are strong at home and they're an aggressive team so it's a difficult one. But we need to win."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Norwich were well beaten by Spurs on Boxing Day but recovered well to beat Aston Villa on Monday and move clear of the relegation zone.

After their win over Manchester United at Old Trafford just before Christmas, the Canaries will be desperate to make it nine points from from four games over the Festive period which will really haul them up the league.

Lawro's full predictions v Match of the Day commentator Steve Wilson

• Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in ourPredictor game.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Southampton are looking to beat Norwich for the third time in a row. Saints have put seven goals past the Canaries in the last two games.
• Norwich have won just one of their last four home fixtures against Southampton, although that victory did come the last time the teams met at Carrow Road in August 2013, a match which was won by Nathan Redmond's first Premier League goal.

Norwich

• Norwich have won two of their last three league games, after winning just two of their previous 14 before that.
• The Canaries are unbeaten in four games at home (W2, D2).
• They have kept just two clean sheets this season, a joint Premier League low with Aston Villa.
• Norwich have never previously begun a calendar year in the Premier League with a home game. Their seven previous opening fixtures of the year have all been away and have yielded just two wins, although one did come against Southampton, back in January 1994.

 Southampton

• Southampton have lost their last three away games, and have won just two of their 16 away (D5, L9).
• They have scored just 12 goals in their last 16 away games.
• Saints have lost five of their last seven league games (W1, D1), collecting just four points.
• Shane Long has scored six goals in his last nine league appearances against Norwich City.