Ralph Hasenhüttl has confirmed Alex McCarthy and Nathan Tella have returned to first team training ahead of Southampton’s trip to Leeds United.

Tella has been out of action since mid-January after picking up a groin injury, while McCarthy has been recovering from a hamstring injury picked up in December.

“Alex McCarthy is back in training, light with the goalkeepers and Will Smallbone had COVID but he’s back in training also.

“Ori [Romeu] was a little bit out with some stomach problem but he’s back in. Nathan Tella is back and training with the team.”

With a number of players in international action over the break, Hasenhüttl will assess their fitness when they return to Staplewood this afternoon.

“So far, I have no messages about injuries from the internationals, I will see them this afternoon but it seems that everyone is back on board.”