Hallelujah, the international break is over and we’re back into the meat and drink of the domestic campaign. First up, on Friday night, we’ve got a potential barnstormer between two of the relegated sides from last year, Southampton and Leicester City. We’ve previewed this one and given some suggested best bets. 

Both sides come into this match, fully rested up after a long international break and will be looking to continue their impressive starts to the season.

After the pain and ignominy of relegation from the Premier League, Southampton (7/5) and Leicester (9/5) sit 7th and 3rd in the Championship respectively and both will harbour strong ambitions of an immediate return to the top tier.

The Saints started their life in the 2nd tier with a four-match unbeaten streak but suffered a massive set back last time out, being spanked 5-0 by Sunderland, at the Stadium of Light. They will be anxious to respond quickly to right the promotion charge.

Meanwhile, the Foxes sit on 12 points, after opening their campaign with four-straight wins, before a disappointing 1-0 loss to Hull City in their most recent fixture.

Enzo Maresca will be keen to demonstrate that loss was just an outlier, in what should be an automatic promotion charge to the end of the season.

Team news:

Russell Martin is without  Juan Larios, Ross Stewart and Jack Stephens and could be tempted to make a number of changes to the side that were demolished by the Black Cats. In with a chance of a start are Kamaldeen Sulemana, Carlos Alcaraz, Ryan Fraser and Manchester City loanee Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

The Leicester injury list sees the trio of Alex Smithies, Conor Coady and Dennis Praet unavailable but there could be a debut for deadline day signing Tom Cannon, who signed from Championship rivals Preston.

Draw – 12/5

I just can’t split these two former Premier League sides, as both have retained a serious amount of quality in their squads.

I can see this one being a real old-school shootout, with chances galore for both attacks and relatively leaky defences at the other end.

Score draw tickles my fancy here but I will take the added comfort of a bore-draw as well and the 12/5 price attracts.

Che Adams first goal scorer – 5/1

Adams looked ineffective in midweek, when starting up front for Scotland on his own, against a very impressive England outfit.

However, the Saints man has looked extremely threatening at this level and has bagged three goals in four games so far this season.

The 27-year-old has only started one of those games but given the manner of the defeat in the North East, surely he warrants a start here?

Betfred are running their famed Double Delight / Hat-Trick Heaven offer on this match meaning that if Adams scores first and then nets again, you will be paid at double the odds (10/1). If he grabs a hat-trick, you will be paid out at a whopping 15/1!

There is also another great offer running on this game:

Build your own PickYourPunt bet (3/1+) of 4+ legs on Southampton v Leicester on Friday and get 100% of your stake back in Free Bets if it loses. (Credited by 12:00 Saturday)