Claude Puel says he will look to change his Saints side for each game to allow them to handle their fixture pile-up.

This afternoon’s trip to Arsenal marks the start of seven games in just 23 days for the first team, with Premier League action coupled with the Europa League and League Cup.

It is a hectic schedule, the kind of which Saints have not experienced before.

Puel is not thinking of it as fielding a stronger team for one game and a weakened side for another, as he believes he can make the changes thanks to the depth of his squad.

He said: “I like to change the team at the beginning of the game because it’s important to keep good energy, to keep good possibilities every time, and a good regularity.

“I think also we have a good squad, a good team – not just 11 players and it’s important also to respect and make feeling for the players, it’s important for the team.

“All the squad will be a winner if we keep good results, good possibilities with a different team.

“My job is to work with all the players. We don’t change the philosophy of the play with different players. This is good for the future and allows the team to have regularity and results and a good performance every time.”

Though he will clearly react to events, Puel is methodical and insists he will start each week with a plan of the teams he intends to field for each game.

“I try to anticipate and have a thought of a starting 11 for the three games, for example, but at the end of the first often we can change the idea because different things – injuries, tiredness for some players,” he reflected.

“It’s important to see this after the last game because it’s difficult to anticipate, but I think it’s important to respect all the players.

“Many players with the same level and a good level and it’s important for the squad to be together as one.”

Puel will have to rely on his squad continuing to learn as they go along.

Having been robbed of many of his stars names for pre-season due to Euro 2016, he just lost them again for a fortnight’s international break, which has made tactical improvements and preparation even harder.

“To make the tactical work it would be interesting to keep them but I am happy for them and for Southampton to have international players,” said Puel.

“It shows we have good players in the squad – good for confidence but afterwards it’s difficult to work without the international players.

“They come back 15 days before the first game of the season and when you can work, they are not here.

“But it’s normal and it’s the same for Arsenal, for example, with many international players.

“It’s a difficulty for a trainer in this period but we must adapt all the training sessions for this.”