Southampton FC predicted team vs West Ham in Carabao Cup

Fellow promotion hopefuls West Ham United are the visitors at St Mary's for the second round tie.

The Hammers have endured a slow start to life in the Championship with one point from their two matches.

Saints beat Stoke City 3-1 on Saturday to record their first league win of the campaign.

Both teams are expected to heavily rotate with success in the league their main focus.

Here's how we are predicting Saints to line up tonight...

Goalkeeper

Daniel Peretz started the first round win at Colchester United as Tonda Eckert named a full strength line up.

However, this seems like a good opportunity to give back up George Long a run out and his second Saints appearance.

Many will be wondering why Aaron Ramsdale won't play. The goalkeeper simply isn't in the plans as things stand.

Defenders

This would be a great opportunity to rotate both full-backs and give Welington and Mads Roerslev their first appearances of the season.

Any minutes for Roerslev would mark his first competitive appearance since November 8 after a lengthy spell out with an Achilles injury.

Fellow right-back Yuki Sugawara is subject to interest elsewhere and is expected to move on from Saints before the window closes.

In terms of central defenders, Eckert is short of options.

Once again, Taylor Harwood-Bellis isn't expected to feature as negotiations between Saints and Aston Villa over a potential transfer continue.

That means that Josh Quarshie is the only senior option that could come in.

Our thinking is that Nathan Wood will get a rest after his first 90 minutes on Saturday and Jack Stephens will continue to captain the side alongside Quarshie.

Midfielders

Given how vital he is, particularly with no Shea Charles replacement and Caspar Jander injured, Flynn Downes probably needs to be rested for this one.

Cameron Bragg is an obvious candidate to come back into the side after being dropped from the starting line up following the 2-1 defeat at Watford.

Alongside him, Kuryu Matsuki will probably retain his place. The Japanese had a better second half than first on Saturday but it isn't his natural position.

Finn Azaz will also likely need a rest and, after coming on against Stoke, this could be a great opportunity for Romeo Akachukwu to get a start.

Attackers

First home starts for Lewis Dobbin and Divin Mubama seems nailed on with both impressing off the bench against Stoke.

Mubama will have another opportunity to score a goal against a former side.

Elsewhere, Sam Edozie looks likely to be another name to come into the starting line up. He won the penalty on Saturday, although it looked offside.

In terms of other potential starters, Cameron Archer and Ben Brereton Diaz are also available.

Full predicted team

(4-2-3-1): Long; Roerslev, Quarshie, Stephens, Welington; Bragg, Matsuki, Dobbin, Akachukwu, Edozie; Mubama.

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