Southampton manager Claude Puel would have been delighted after his side picked up a vital win against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, but the victory came at a cost.

The Saints looked to be in trouble when Christian Benteke gave the in-form visitors the lead, but Nathan Redmond equalised just before the break, and late goals from Maya Yoshida and James Ward-Prowse gave the south coast outfit a vital three points as things get tighter at the bottom of the Premier League table.

The one negative for Puel was the booking midfielder Oriol Romeu picked up in the 71st minute – his tenth of the season – which means that he will now miss the trip to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, and the visit of Manchester City to St Mary’s the following weekend.

The Spaniard has become a key player in front of the back four for the Saints this term and he has impressed with his ability to win the ball back, as well as the quality of the distribution once he has done so.

Of course, it gives an opportunity to others to stake their claim for a regular spot in the starting XI.

Here are THREE Southampton players that must step up in the absence of Romeu…

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

Having arrived at St Mary’s from Bayern Munich for £12m last summer, Southampton supporters would have had high hopes for the impact Hojbjerg could make this season.

While he made a positive start to his Saints career, performances dropped off towards the end of 2016 and perhaps he is still thinking about his part in the mistake that allowed Hapoel Be’er Sheva to knock the club out of the Europa League.

The 21-year-old has found first-team opportunities hard to come by in recent weeks, but Romeu’s suspension could allow him to stake his claim for a place in the side.

Jordy Clasie

The Dutch midfielder moved to St Mary’s in the summer of 2015 but he has never cemented a regular spot in the Saints side.

The 25-year-old has made 22 appearances in all competitions for the south coast outfit this term - his last came as a substitute against Watford at the start of March – but the absence of Romeu for the next two matches certainly gives him the opportunity he has been craving in midfield.

His size suggests that he won’t be a direct replacement for the Spaniard, but he must try and prove otherwise over the course of the next two matches.

Jack Stephens

The 23-year-old has become a regular in the side at centre-back following the departure of Jose Fonte and injury suffered by Virgil van Dijk in January, but manager Claude Puel could be tempted by a new experiment in the next two matches.

The Frenchman may feel that Stephens, who is comfortable in possession, could prove to be more of like-for-like replacement in Romeu’s position than perhaps Hojbjerg or Clasie may be.

It would be a risk, but with Martin Caceres able to fill in alongside Maya Yoshida at the heart of the defence, it might be one worth taking.