Southampton could be without up to four players for Saturday's Premier League clash against Ipswich Town at St Mary's.

Defender Jack Stephens will serve the second of a three-match ban after he was sent off in Southampton's 3-0 defeat at home to Manchester United last weekend.

Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu (Achilles) remains a long-term absentee, while Kamaldeen Sulemana (ankle) and Will Smallbone (hamstring) ae both doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Alex McCarthy was Southampton's hero on his 150th appearance for the club in midweek as he made the decisive save in a 6-5 penalty-shootout win over Everton in the EFL Cup third round, but he is set to be replaced between the sticks by Aaron Ramsdale.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis scored in normal time of that contest at Goodison Park and is the most likely candidate to replace the suspended Stephens at centre-back, potentially joining Yukinari Sugawara, Jan Bednarek and Kyle Walker-Peters in the back four.

Flynn Downes is set to take the place of Adam Lallana in centre-midfield, and 18-year-old Tyler Dibling could replace Maxwel Cornet on the right flank, while Russell Martin will weigh up whether to start either Cameron Archer or Adam Armstrong in attack with Ben Brereton Diaz.

Southampton possible starting lineup: Ramsdale; Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Walker-Peters; Downes, Ugochukwu; Dibling, Fernandes; Brereton Diaz, Archer

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