(Reuters) - Southampton right back Cedric Soares could be thrust into action in their Premier League game against Burnley on Sunday despite missing pre-season with a bout of gastroenteritis, manager Mark Hughes has said.
Portugal international Soares was due to return last week following an extended break after the World Cup in Russia but will join up with his club team mates only on Tuesday.
"Cedric is the one guy we wouldn't worry too much about because he is a fitness guy who loves playing football and loves keeping himself in first class condition," Hughes told the Southern Daily Echo.
"The fact he's been off all he's missed is game time. If he has to go in straightaway and I feel that is the right thing for the team then that's what I will do."
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)