Southampton explain Danny Ings injury latest but 'brilliant' wing back returns for Brighton

The 20-year-old defender missed last weekend’s draw with Liverpool after being sent off for two bookable offences during the win at Aston Villa on November 21.

"It’s nice to have all the players available," said Potter. "Tariq has done brilliantly and he has had a real impact for us.

"He’s a young player with lots to learn, which I am sure he will say. He’s had a fantastic start to his career at Brighton & Hove and we’re looking forward to carrying on working with him and helping him improve and enjoying his football and seeing where he can get to."

Midfielder Adam Lallana is facing two weeks on the sidelines after aggravating a groin injury during a brief appearance as a substitute against his former club, while striker Neal Maupay (hamstring) remains a doubt and Davy Propper and Alexis Mac Allister (illness) continue to work their way back.

"He's still ill and low for quite some time so he missed some training so it's about getting him up to speed.

"He's at a place now where he has not played that much football over a period of time so we have to deal with that and get him up to speed.

"At the same time we have a squad, that is probably a little bit ahead of him at the moment in terms of game time and helping us on the pitch. That is where it is at the moment."

"Alexis Mac Allister is a bit similar to Davy. He was poorly and then just had a bit of time in his bed, so we are just building him back up again.

"He's had a frustrating time because he had a good moment and then got poorly. He's now back so we are at the same stage and trying to build him up and get him strong enough to play in the Premier.

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl could be given a boost by the return of Danny Ings.

The Austrian said the striker would be assessed ahead of the trip after he trained with the team for the first time since sustaining an injury against Aston Villa on November 1.

In Ings’ absence, Hasenhuttl’s men picked up four points from three matches, although the return of the striker – who has already netted five goals in seven league games this season – would be welcomed by the manager.

Southampton face a club who held champions Liverpool to a draw last weekend.

Saints have come out on top in recent encounters between the two sides, and are unbeaten in the fixture since 2012, with three wins from their last five, although the manager insisted they are a difficult team to face.

“When you watch them play you think they must have more points and it was last season the same,” Hasenhuttl said.

“(They are a) really tough opponent to play against and they do a good job there, so always tough to go there and win games.

“We have a good record there since I was here but there are no guarantees, we have to go there and give the best we have and hopefully it’s enough to take the three points.”

Brighton provisional squad: Ryan, Steele, White, Webster, Dunk, Bernardo, Burn, Veltman, Bissouma, Trossard, Gross, Jahanbakhsh, Alzate, March, Molumby, Connolly, Maupay, Welbeck.

Southampton provisional squad: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Bertrand, Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Djenepo, Walcott, Adams, Stephens, Ings, Obafemi, Tella, Diallo, N’Lundulu, Forster.