Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhüttl has put Ibrahima Diallo on notice for the Boxing Day clash with Fulham.
Oriol Romeu picked up his fifth booking of the season in the 1-0 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday, and will now face a one-match ban.
Having so far made six substitute appearances, France Under-21 international Diallo is next in line to replace Romeu next weekend.
Commenting on Romeu's suspension, the boss said: “It's not surprising, we had two sixes with yellow cards on the pitch.
“You could feel them trying everything to keep the game going and it was a good game from them both, but now Ibrahima gets the chance to play and it's good that we have him."
