Ralph Hasenhuttl moaned that he would be facing a "completely different" Newcastle United the last time his team met the Magpies in March.
His concerns at the time were that Newcastle would travel to the South Coast with a stronger side to the one that would have faced them at the start of 2022 in the game that was initially called off because of Covid. His worst fears were confirmed when January signings Chris Wood and Bruno Guimaraes both scored to net the points in that particular encounter.
Back then the Saints boss said: "Strange now to concentrate on a game what you should've played two months ago against a completely different team. We spoke about that there is the chance in the transfer window to change their team completely and I think they did. This was expected."
READ MORE: They are a contender - Pep Guardiola Toon verdict
Hasenhuttl's complaint is even less valid now but he will face a vastly improved Toon team who arrive at St Mary's on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run. In contrast, his own team have won just once in the same period and sit just above the relegation zone.
Eddie Howe's men could not be playing Southampton at a better time in many ways with the Austrian manager furious with his team for barely creating any chances. He said after the defeat at Crystal Palace: "There's positive things but what hurts more? Not having chances or having chances and not scoring?"
But the Press only got to see his feelings on the surface with defender Duje Ćaleta-Car explaining he went in even harder on his players in the dressing room. The Croatian said: “The manager was really angry about the first-half because we played really bad and it is not possible in the Premier League to play 45 minutes (after the break) and get that result."
It sets up a tense encounter for Hasenhuttl at the weekend who started last month with reports he was likely to be replaced in the dugout. Just a few weeks ago, some observers felt that Newcastle needed to play Aston Villa just before Steven Gerrard parted company with the second city side.
They needn't have worried of course as Newcastle picked up a 4-0 win. But this could also "be a good time to play" Southampton in that sense. And after further investment the Southampton manager may have more to say on Newcastle's spending powers again in the build-up to the game.
READ NEXT
The Joelinton landmark nobody noticed against Aston Villa
How Joelinton has shown us he is the true competitor
Newcastle have already found one of the best players that Allan Saint-Maximin has ever seen
Sven Botman issues scary Premier League warning amid verdict on facing Harry Kane and Son Heung-min
Newcastle United to issue 'hands off' stance on Bruno Guimaraes amid Chelsea and Real Madrid talk
