Southampton start life without Ralph Hasenhuttl with a Carabao Cup Third Round tie with League One highfliers Sheffield Wednesday.
First Team Lead Coach Ruben Selles will take charge of Saints, with the club hopeful of announcing a permanent replacement in due course.
Hasenhuttl’s tenure came to an abrupt end on Monday following Newcastle United’s 4-1 win at St. Marys on Sunday.
A lot will be focussed on how Saints can react as they enter a new chapter. Hasenhuttl had been at the helm for almost four years so it will be left to see what direction they head in with a change of ideas.
Saints have built a real identity under Hasenhuttl of playing high-intensity, pressing football so Selles will be hoping they can improve on that as they look to reach the Fourth Round of the competition for the third time in four seasons.
League One Sheffield Wednesday have nothing to lose going into the game. Having had a solid start to their league campaign, anything else will be a bonus with promotion the ultimate aim for Darren Moore’s men.
Team News
Saints are likely to give opportunities to those with limited first team appearances so far this season.
This could see the likes of Alex McCarthy, Lewis Payne, Theo Walcott and Samuel Edozie called up, whilst fans will hope to see exciting prospect Sekou Mara after he scored four goals in a recent ‘B’ team fixture.
Sheffield Wednesday could have Michael Ihiekwe and Akin Famewo available after the duo missed the Emirates FA Cup win over Morecambe on Friday night.
The Owls have used the Carabao Cup to give the fringe players some minutes, but they will be without Jack Hunt who limped off in the 2-0 win at the weekend. Alex Mighten and Mallik Wilks are also unavailable due to being cup-tied.
Predicted line-ups
Saints: Alex McCarthy; Lewis Payne, Lyanco, Duje Caleta-Car, Romain Perraud; Ibrahima Diallo, James Ward-Prowse, Samuel Edozie, Stuart Armstrong; Sekou Mara, Theo Walcott.
Wednesday: David Stockdale; Liam Palmer, Dominic Iorfa, Mark McGuinness, Marvin Johnson; Tyreeq Bakinson, Barry Bannan, Will Vaulks; Josh Windass, Michael Smith, Callum Paterson.
Road to Third Round
Saints made the last 32 on the back of a routine second round win at Cambridge United. Che Adams scored twice either side of the break at Abbey Stadium, with Dominic Ballard scoring his first senior goal late on to make it 3-0.
Wednesday, meanwhile, have already upset higher league opponents after beating Sunderland at Hillsborough in round one. Dennis Adeniran and Sylla Sow scored early in either half to give the Owls a 2-0 win.
A 3-0 win over struggling League Two side Rochdale followed, with Jaden Brown, Olu Dele-Bashiru and Adeniran all on target in the first half.
Key players
Che Adams
Having scored twice in the last round, much will be hoped that the Scottish international can play a big part in Saints avoiding an upset here. However, it won’t be easy against a mean Owls defence who have conceded one of the fewest goals in League One.
The little Scottish midfielder is in a rich vein of form, with Bannan winning the clubs player of the month and was also nominated for the EFL October player of the month after two goals and two assists. If Wednesday are to pull off a shock here, he will be instrumental.
Match Details
Kick off is at St. Marys Stadium on Wednesday, November 9th at 7:45pm GMT. This match has not been selected for broadcast, however goals can be seen as they go in on Sky Sports News' studio coverage, as well as highlights being made available after the match.