Mark Hughes will have extra motivation when Saints travel to Crystal Palace tomorrow as he aims to rid himself of an unwanted personal record.

It will be the seventh managerial visit to Selhurst Park for Hughes who is yet to register a single win there.

Hughes admits it is a slightly baffling statistic and he would now like to make some more positive memories of a visit to Palace to go alongside one standout match as a player.

He smiled: “I scored my 100th league goal there and that’s about it.

“My record isn’t great there for whatever reason. I don’t know.

“I would imagine a lot of managers have records at certain clubs that they don’t like getting mentioned but it’s been mentioned so I will deal with it.

“I don’t know what it is. I have gone up against good Crystal Palace teams and been well beaten. I have gone there and played well and haven’t got results I felt my teams deserved.

“It is what it is and one of those anomalies.

“There are not too many clubs that my record is that poor at, but thanks for mentioning it.”

Danny Ings is the only doubt for the game.

He struggled through in the defeat at Leicester with a blister. Saints have given him time to rest and he has now returned to training but Hughes will make a late decision.

Saints go into the game still searching for a first Premier League victory of the season but boosted by their midweek Carabao Cup triumph over Brighton.

However, they will have to keep quite Palace’s star man Wilfried Zaha.

“Most teams have one or two of those type of those players, the top teams have four or five,” admitted Hughes.

“It looks like he’s comfortable in his surroundings. I think he’s a local boy and happy to have that support around him and it allows him to affect games in a positive way.

“The key is maybe to stop him getting the ball in the first place but if he is then keep him away from the danger areas.”

Alex McCarthy will start the game boosted by a call-up to the England squad.

Hughes believes he has the ability to not just make up the numbers but eventually challenge Jordan Pickford for the number one jersey.

“I see no reason why he can’t,” reflected Hughes.

“His fundamentals are very sound.

“He’s a big guy but very mobile and very dynamic in his box.

“He’s a top level keeper and will push whoever is in possession of the shirt.”

He added: “I think he deserves it in where he was when he first came to the club and wasn’t first choice but worked his way in by virtue of performances.

“He was instrumental at the back end of last year and made match defining saves to protect results and gain points.

“That’s the sign of a top keeper when you need him to step up and protect the result and Alex did that on numerous occasions.

“He started in the same vein this year and his form is good, I’m pleased with confidence he is showing with his standing in the club as number one.

“The next thing is international recognition which he’s got and everyone’s really pleased for him.”