Southampton will be without defender Jose Fonte for the trip to Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.

Fonte, who made 92 appearances for Palace between 2007 and 2010, is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Everton on Saturday.

However, manager Ronald Koeman is confident that midfielder Dusan Tadic will return to the squad after taking part in training on Tuesday.

The 3-0 victory over the Toffees at the weekend ended a run of five successive defeats for the Saints, who have fallen from second to fifth place in the standings in recent weeks.

Palace head into the game with only goal difference keeping them out of the relegation zone, and manager Neil Warnock will be aware that his team need to bring a halt to a run that has seen the Eagles fail to win in five matches.

Their run can be put down to their lack of success in the final third with just one goal coming in their last four fixtures.

Warnock could hand a recall to on-loan winger Wilfried Zaha, while Dwight Gayle is another who is in contention to start at Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace:

Recent form: WDLDDL

Possible starting lineup: Speroni; Kelly, Dann, Hangeland, Ward; Bolasie, Jedinak, Ledley, McArthur, Puncheon; Campbell

Southampton:

Premier League: DLLLLW
Form in all competitions: LLLLLW

Possible starting lineup: Forster, Alderweireld, Yoshida, Bertrand, Clyne, Reed, Ward-Prowse, S. Davis, Tadic, Long, Pelle

Sports Mole says: 1-2

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