Eddie Howe says Allan Saint-Maximin is not 100% fit and he may need more time to reintegrate to his first team line-up. Saint-Maximin appeared briefly in the narrow 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion but did not look at his sharpest.
Howe will now consider carefully who starts against Southampton with Ryan Fraser on his highest run of starts for a number of seasons and one or two other players looking like they are in need of a rest.
Howe said: "Allan is not 100% fit. "He did one day of training, his first in three week, before the previous game. We are very keen to have him back and back at his best. When he came on against Brighton he did well and a key moment gave us a lift. We are trying to build up his fitness and he's nearly there."
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Howe will welcome back Matt Ritchie to his squad with the experienced winger an option for the clash at St Mary's Stadium. Ritchie has not appeared since the FA Cup defeat against Cambridge with the 32-year-old also not part of the eight game unbeaten run in the Premier League.
Howe said there were no other key injuries but Fede Fernandez is struggling with a strain. The 33-year-old defender has not played since the 1-0 win over Burnley last year.
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