Southampton will look to record back-to-back away wins when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day, but manager Ralph Hasenhuttl faces an unwelcome dilemma over Danny Ings.

Of course, the 27-year-old is in absolutely stunning form at the moment and his two goals in the 3-1 win against Aston Villa on Saturday took his tally to 11 top flight goals for the season, and 13 in 20 appearances in all competitions.

The former Liverpool man also became just the third Saints player during the Premier League era to reach double figures before Christmas when he netted his first at Villa Park – an impressive feat given he didn't start three of their opening six league fixtures in 2019/20 with Che Adams preferred ahead of him.

With four goals in his previous three outings on the road it is inconceivable that he wouldn't start against Frank Lampard's men on Thursday. Or is it?

Ings has suffered his fair amount injury issues in recent years – including two serious ones at Liverpool and some niggling ones last term – but has shown in recent months just how effective he can be when he is in a good physical shape.

The problem is that Thursday is the first of three Southampton fixtures in the space of six days, with Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur the opponents.

The striker may be in great shape and in brilliant goalscoring form, but as things stand he looks to be the club's best hope of staying in the division – essentially they can't afford to lose him, especially when you consider fellow attackers Nathan Redmond, Che Adams, Shane Long and Michael Obafemi don't have a single goal between them this term.

Given he has featured in all but one of their 21 fixtures in 2019/20 to date, it is a big ask – and a slight risk – to ask Ings to start against the Blues on Thursday and then again against Palace on Saturday.

That leaves Hasenhuttl with a dilemma, and an unwelcome one at that.

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If he is going to rotate, does he keep his main man in the line-up for what looks to be a tough-looking match against Chelsea following their convincing performance and win away at Spurs on Sunday, or save him for what should – on paper at least – be a more winnable game at home to the Eagles 48 hours later.

We believe it would make more sense to do the latter, and bring Ings on in west London if a goal is needed.

Over to you, Ralph.

In other Southampton news, Garth Crooks has issued a gloomy prediction for Saints should they suffer relegation...