Matt Targett and Sam McQueen in battle to start for Southampton against Watford

Matt Targett and Sam McQueen find themselves battling to start against Watford after Ryan Bertrand was ruled out for at least the season opener through injury.

Puel admitted that England defender Bertrand was not going to win a race against time to be fit to face the Hornets, and with the 27-year-old yet to figure in pre-season it remains to be seen how soon he will be available.

It has added up to a big opportunity for Targett and McQueen, who were both born close to St Mary’s and have risen through the club’s academy system after being scouted aged eight playing for local youth teams.

Though a year younger than McQueen, 20-year-old Targett has to be considered the favourite due to his superior top level experience.

He has played 31 times for the Saints first team over the past couple of seasons, and has proven top level experience of the attacking qualities that Puel wants to see from his full backs.

Though several of Targett’s 13 Premier League appearances last season were as a left wing back, he also deputised for Bertrand in the opening weeks of the campaign at full back, with injury robbing the former Chelsea man of a flying start a year ago as well.

McQueen has really come from nowhere in pre-season to get himself into the first team picture under Puel.

The former Mountbatten School pupil spent the second half of last season out on loan at League One side Southend.

It seemed likely he would return there this season as well with the Shrimpers keen to land him again, but he has impressed Puel sufficiently to have a chance of starting against Watford.

For McQueen, whose only previous Saints first team appearance came late on in the FA Cup defeat to Sunderland in February 2014, it is also a new position.

Though naturally left sided, he has previously been seen as a winger rather than a full back, but has taken to the task well during the summer.

Targett started Saints’ final pre-season friendly with Athletic Bilabo and played 74 minutes before being replaced by McQueen, who played the full match just a few days earlier against Espanyol.

Puel is also monitoring the fitness of defensive duo Jose Fonte and Cedric Soares, who have only played 45 minutes each of pre-season after being allowed extended leave due to their Euro 2016 winning exploits with Portugal.

New signing Jeremy Pied, the man seen as the natural alternative to Cedric, also has just 45 minutes of pre-season action under his belt, while Cuco Martina was not involved against Bilbao after 90 minutes against Espanyol.