BOOT BOY AUSTIN IS BANNED

SOUTHAMPTON travel to Wembley to play Tottenham without top scorer Charlie Austin after he was banned for three games for violent conduct. Austin was charged by the FA after he caught Huddersfield keeper Jonas Lossl in the face with his right boot during the 1-1 draw at St Mary’s on Saturday. Referee Lee Probert did not see the incident, which left the Danish goalkeeper with blood pouring down his face. Huddersfield boss David Wagner accused Austin of deliberately hurting Lossl. He said: ‘It was a very ugly and nasty challenge. This should never happen where a player hurts an opponent on purpose, even if I don’t like to say he has done it but (that’s) what it looks like.’ The ban is unlikely to affect Austin after he was ruled out for two weeks with a hamstring injury which he suffered in the draw against Wagner’s side. The 28-year-old will also miss the trip to Manchester United on December 30 and the match at home to Crystal Palace on January 2. Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino is also expected to be without defender Virgil van Dijk for the game against Spurs. Van Dijk, a transfer target of Manchester City and Liverpool, was left out of the squad for the game against Huddersfield. James Ward-Prowse, however, thinks Southampton can manage without the Dutchman, despite winning just one of their last 10 league games. Ward-Prowse said: ‘Every team goes through a tough period in but we have to stick together, keep believing in each other and what we’re doing and I’m sure it will change.’