Ralph will be missing key men for Cup replay

SOUTHAMPTON will be without key players for their FA Cup third round replay with Derby County.

Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has confirmed that Danny Ings, Mario Lemina and Ryan Bertrand will all miss the match due to injury - but could be in contention to face Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.

Michael Obafemi also remains sidelined, while the Saints have three players suspended - Charlie Austin, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Yan Valery.

Valery was sent off in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Leicester City, Austin serves the second of a two-match ban for making an abusive gesture towards Manchester City fans in a recent fixture and captain Hojbjerg completes his fourmatch ban.

“We have to find the right mixture. We will continue to try to give the young guys chances in the future,” said Hasenhuttl.

“Callum Slattery is an option, absolutely. We have to look at what shape we’re playing.

“We have three suspended players who will miss Wednesday but will be available for the weekend.

“Injured players are coming back piece by piece. Bertrand is training with the team, Ings will, hopefully, return to training and Lemina was in the group (on Monday).

“Obafemi will take a few weeks more to recover. His injury is more difficult.”

Hasenhuttl wants his side to use their battling victory at Leicester as a stepping stone for Cup progress.

“It’s a fantastic win,” Hasenhuttl said.

“It can be a very important one because we showed that we act as a team with fantastic commitment.

“That’s what I want to see. “We showed more of our potential that we have to bring to excellence, which is the step we want to go to. It’s only possible with hard work.

“Now I think we have made a very important step but only one, the others have to follow.

“After the red card for Yan Valery, nobody will have thought we can win this game with 45 minutes to go. It’s a long time to defend against such a good team.” ANOTHER chance to show they can compete with Premier League opponents is exactly what Derby County need after the disappointing display against Leeds United, says manager Frank Lampard.

Derby face Southampton in an FA Cup third round replay at St Mary’s Stadium tonight (7.45pm) following a 2-2 draw at Pride Park Stadium 10 days ago.

The winners will be away to Accrington Stanley in the last 32 of the competition.

“It’s a good game for us,” said Lampard, whose team fell 2-0 to Leeds at Elland Road in the Championship on Friday night.

The Rams were second best from start to finish and Lampard is keen for his players to show that was very much an off-night when they take on Southampton.

“It is a good reaction game for us to show that what you saw on Friday night is not what we have been seeing all season and that is up to the players to show that,” Lampard added.

Derby have made their mark against top-flight opponents already this season.

In the Carabao Cup, they beat Manchester United on penalties at Old Trafford after drawing 2-2 and then lost 3-2 to Lampard’s old club, Chelsea, at Stamford Bridge.

The Rams recovered from two down to draw with Southampton in their first meeting and now they have their sights on booking a place in round four.

Lampard said: “The game is important for us. We love the FA Cup here, the fans do, and it is another opportunity for the players to show