Shane Long returns to Southampton unscathed

Southampton's Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long should be fit to face Stoke this weekend - returning unscathed from international duty on Monday.

The man who scored Ireland’s winner against world champions Germany last month came through his substitute appearance for Martin O’Neill’s team against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday with no ill effects of the ankle problem that had ruled him out for club and country since Ireland’s final group game against Poland about five weeks beforehand.

Long missed Ireland's first leg 1-1 draw in Zenica on Friday, but returned to play most of the second half in the Aviva stadium on Monday, almost scoring a third Ireland goal in the 2-0 win. Southampton manager Ronald Koeman had urged his striker to sit out the international break to fully clear up his injury problems, but nonethless he's been named in the club's provisional squad for Saturday's game.

Defender Virgil van Dijk should also be fit to face Stoke despite suffering a knee injury on international duty with Holland, but striker Jay Rodriguez is out with a foot injury which may require surgery - goalkeeper Fraser Forster is still recovering from a knee operation.

Meanwhile Leicester striker Jamie Vardy will be assessed on Friday as he chases a record-equalling goal at Newcastle.

The forward missed England’s games against Spain and France during the international break with a hip injury but will match Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Barclays Premier League record of scoring in 10 straight games if he plays and nets at St James’ Park on Saturday.

Leonardo Ulloa, Shinji Okazaki and Andrej Kramaric stand by to deputise if Vardy fails to recover in time, while only long-term absentee Matty James (knee) is definitely out for boss Claudio Ranieri.