The Saints begin their EFL Cup campaign on Wednesday night when they host former manager, Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace at St Mary’s Stadium.
The South Coast side enter the competition at the third round, due to their involvement in the Europa League, which they began with a resounding 3-0 over Czech side, Sparta Prague last Thursday.
Meanwhile their visitors from South London began their League Cup run in the second round, with a comfortable 2-0 win over Blackpool.
This is the third successive season in which The Saints have been drawn against The Eagles in one of the cups, having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Pardew’s side in 2015 and 2016.
With Puel’s side fighting on four fronts this season, the EFL Cup offers the Frenchman the opportunity to utilise his whole squad and see what the fringe players have to offer him.
With that in mind, here are THREE players that Puel must hand a chance to at St. Mary’s on Wednesday night…
Harrison Reed
Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.
The Saints academy graduate has found game time extremely hard to come by since making his debut in 2013. The England U20 international fell out of favour under former boss, Ronald Koeman, but his new manager has a history of trusting and developing young talent, and it is time Reed got his chance.
Cuco Martina
Photo: Charlotte Wilson / Offside
A cult hero on the South Coast after his stunning goal against Arsenal last season, the right back was on the verge of a Deadline Day move to rejoin Ronald Koeman at Everton in August, but was recalled to the South Coast at the last minute.
He was handed a start in the Europa League win against Sparta Prague, and was arguably the best player on the pitch, meaning he would have felt hard-done-by when he found himself on the bench at the weekend. The 26-year-old will be ready and waiting to show off once again at St. Mary’s.
Alex McCarthy
Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.
This is by no means a call to drop Fraser Forster in the long-term, but in McCarthy The Saints have a top notch back-up ‘keeper, and would be a waste sat on the bench all season.
A debut against his former side could bode well for the England international, being more comfortable stopping shots from players he was training with just weeks ago.