Crystal Palace v Southampton: Eagles star faces fitness test, Saints striker a doubt

© Nick Potts/PA Wire

James Tomkins faces a late fitness test before Crystal Palace select their starting XI to host Southampton in the Premier League.

The central defender has been struggling with a minor calf injury, so Martin Kelly is in contention to continue to deputise if he is ruled out.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka will vie for selection at right-back with Joel Ward, but Scott Dann and Connor Wickham remain long-term absentees.

Provisional squad: Hennessey, Guaita, Speroni, Wan-Bissaka, Ward, Tomkins, Sakho, Kelly, Riedewald, Van Aanholt, Schlupp, Townsend, McArthur, Milivojevic, Kouyate, Meyer, Puncheon, Kaikai, Ayew, Zaha, Sorloth, Benteke.

Southampton will check on the fitness of Danny Ings.

The striker is nursing a foot problem which saw him miss the Carabao Cup win at Brighton.

Pierre-Emile H0jbjerg missed that game in midweek through suspension but he is available again.

Saints boss Mark Hughes made 10 changes in the cup, with just Mohamed Elyounoussi remaining from the team that started against Leicester. So wholesale changes are expected once more at Selhurst Park.

Provisional squad: McCarthy, Gunn, Forster, Soares, Stephens, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Hoedt, Bertrand, Bednarek, McQueen, Targett, Davis, Romeu, Lemina, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Elyounoussi, Redmond, Gallagher, Long, Gabbiadini, Austin, Ings.