Saints are assessing the fitness of their returning international stars ahead of tomorrow’s game at Crystal Palace.

With 18 players returning to Staplewood after various trips to represent their countries it is a busy time for Mauricio Pochettino and his staff as they try to see what shape everybody is in.

The only player definitely out of the game at Selhurst Park is Kelvin Davis who remains sidelined with a hamstring problem.But Pochettino was not ruling out further absentees as the players are checked over.

He said: “We have to assess the different players that are still getting back.

“They are all coming back in different physical states so we still need to assess their fitness.

“The one definite player that isn’t going to be playing is Kelvin Davis who is out long term and the others we have to assess their fitness.

“We are more worried about players who have travelled a long distance such as Maya Yoshida and Victor Wanyama.

“Maya Yoshida played the full 90 minutes of the game, Victor Wanyama didn’t play because there was a problem between Kenya and Sudan and we need to assess both their fitness.”

Saints travel to Palace with their recent good form having taken a dip with three successive defeats.

“All games in the Premier League are very important and very intense and this will be no different,” reflected Pochettino.

“Crystal Palace will be very tough opposition, we are well aware of that.

“They are a very aggressive side, they have a clear style of play that has been imposed by Tony Puils and we know we are going to be facing very tough opposition.”