Claude Puel insists he won’t be afraid to make the changes he thinks are right for Saints, even if it means resting two-goal hero Charlie Austin for tomorrow’s game against Swansea.

The Saints boss maintains that the only way the club will have a successful season when they have to play three times a week is if he rotates his squad.

Puel made seven changes for the Europa League tie against Sparta Prague and came away with a 3-0 win.

He is now likely to reverse most of those moves for tomorrow’s game at St Mary’s, which will likely include leaving out Austin.

Puel concedes the decisions might not always be popular, but says he will stand by what he believes is best for the team.

He said: “I think it’s important to keep the good way and what you want to do for the future.

“It was a risk perhaps at the beginning because you stayed four games without a win but it’s important to keep calm at the start of the season.

“The season is very long with many chances to play, many possibilities, many games. It was important to stay calm with good analyse and to improve together.

“My job is not just to play ten or 11 players but to improve with all these players and to give chances to show their qualities.

“It’s important for the development of the club and for the future.

“I think we stay with a good spirit, a good attitude and we continue in a good way.”

Of the strikers, Puel added: “I think it’s not too hard because Charlie for example play all the game, or 80 minutes, and it’s important now for recovery and to have a different solution in the match.

“All the players want to play and it’s interesting.

“It’s interesting of course Charlie score, Rodriguez, and Redmond now and the work of Shane for example he can do a very good game and give a good assist for Rodriguez. It will be important for him to score, but it’s not just the in front player of my team that must score.

“I think all the players of the team have to score this year, every time at the end of the season for example 15 or 16 players score on the season. This is important because it’s a collective and all the players attack and all the players defend.”

Whether Austin starts against Swansea could also depend on the fitness of Jay Rodriguez, who picked up a slight injury in his goalscoring cameo against Sparta which leaves him a doubt for the game.

Puel insists that he expected a high level of performance from his much changed side.

“I am not surprised. I am sure they can do good games and I am not afraid when I decide to do this change. No,” he reflected.

“Around the team perhaps, for fans, or for press, perhaps, but if we want a good chance to play all these games with a good level and a good result it’s important to make this.

“It was a risk perhaps at the beginning at the start of the game, but at the final we win something with a feeling, a relationship and a good acquaintance between the players and this is the most important.”

He continued: “I explain at the start to my players that it was important to present it and to give the way and to have a chance here with good results and to keep good energy to play many games.

“It was important to speak and to discuss with my players and they accept these possibilities to change the team every time.

“I don’t know the number of course, but I think it was very important to show all the squad we have good players, good younger players, and for the future I think it’s very important.

“All the players can encourage their partners and this is very interesting for the dynamic of the group.”