CLAUDE PUEL is ready to stick up two fingers at Jose Fonte by leaving him on the bench for tonight’s make-or-break clash.
Manchester United target Fonte, 32, hit out at Puel for not picking him for any of Saints’ European games this season.
But defiant Puel said: “In the last match against Sparta normally Jose would have played but he was injured.
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“Now it’s a situation where we rotate and I’m happy and satisfied with Maya Yoshida.
“We are lucky to have good centre-backs with Virgil van Dijk, Jose, Maya and also Jack Stephens who is an international player with the Under-21s.
“Jack played just one game also and deserves game time. I consider the balance with all the players and not just with some important players.
"For me it’s important to consider all the team and respect this.”
Furious Fonte, also wanted by Everton, is expected to leave in January after Saints refused to extend his contract beyond the end of next season.
The Portugal Euro 2016 winner took to social media to deny claims by St Mary’s insiders he had been offered a big-money new deal.
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Puel, whose side must beat Israeli champions Hapoel or draw 0-0 to progress to the last 32, added: “It is a situation between player and club.
“The most important thing is to speak about the team and about the game and not just this individual situation.”
SOUTHAMPTON (likely): Forster, Martina, Yoshida, Van Dijk, McQueen, Romeu, Clasie, Davis, Boufal, Long, Sims.
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