Southampton's record signing Dani Osvaldo is in contention to make his debut at home to Sunderland. Teenage defender Calum Chambers could retain his place with Nathaniel Clyne short of fitness following a pre-season injury. Sunderland pair Craig Gardner and David Vaughan are available after suspension. Wes Brown is still building up his fitness after a long-term knee problem, while striker Steven Fletcher is still sidelined. MATCH PREVIEW Both Mauricio Pochettino and Paolo Di Canio are starting their first full season in charge at their respective clubs and have been busy reshaping their squads. Five of the 10 new arrivals at the Stadium of Light started for Sunderland last weekend as they went down 1-0 at home to Fulham, while Dejan Lovren and Victor Wanyama played for Southampton in their 1-0 victory at West Brom. Italy international Dani Osvaldo has now been added to the mix after Saints broke their club transfer record again. Sunderland also have more options but, having watched the highlights on Match of the Day via the BBC iPlayer (what a welcome development), Di Canio could be tempted to stick with the team that started against the Cottagers. The Sunderland boss may also identify strongly with Saints new boy Osvaldo, who is certainly an interesting character. The striker played under Pochettino at Espanyol but was excluded from the Italy squad for the Confederations Cup in the summer for disciplinary reasons. He admits that he is "no angel" but is generally a "nice person." Remind you of anyone? With the ever-reliable Rickie Lambert on a career high following his goalscoring debut for England and more young players emerging from their academy, Southampton appear to be a team heading in the right direction. Sunderland's away form is patchy but they have won on their last two visits to St Mary's. To try and predict the outcome of this encounter is difficult but it should be very interesting indeed. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head The Wearsiders won this fixture 1-0 last season in the first meeting of the clubs in the Premier League in 10 years. Saints are aiming to avoid a third straight defeat to Sunderland at St Mary's Stadium. Sunderland have won four of their last six trips to Southampton. Southampton Southampton have scored just three goals in their last six Premier League matches. By selecting Luke Shaw, Calum Chambers and James Ward-Prowse against West Brom last weekend, Southampton became the first club since the Premier League started in 1992 to include three players aged 18 or under in their starting XI Ricky Lambert's winning penalty at West Brom was his 32nd successful spot-kick in a row since he missed one in 2009 while playing for Bristol Rovers. No English player has scored more Premier League goals than Lambert since the start of the 2012-13 season (16). Sunderland Manager Paolo Di Canio has lost half of his eight matches in charge and won just two. The Black Cats are without a victory in five league games stretching back to mid-April. The last time they won away from the Stadium of Light was against arch-rivals Newcastle United on 14 April. It is their only win in the last seven away fixtures.

• published: 24 Aug 2013
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