Claude Puel has been urged to play his strongest side as Saints take on Inter Milan in the San Siro tomorrow night – but the manager admits he isn’t certain of his best team.

Puel has made a policy of rotating his side for Europa League games with fixtures coming thick and fast.

However, with the magnitude of tomorrow's Group K game in mind, many are hoping that Puel will play the strongest team at his disposal, including the likes of Charlie Austin.

For Puel it that isn’t straightforward, as he admitted in his pre-match press conference at the San Siro that he is unsure who that entails.

He said: “I don’t know my best team because all the time we can change five or six or nine players.

“For the moment we continue a good way with all the players.

“It’s important to keep all the squad with a good concentration. If we want to stay with good results and a good physical level for all the games it’s important to respect all my players.

“For example, of course this game is very important to us but after it is very important also the game away against Manchester City.

“All the games are important but for me my job is to have every time a good balance on the team with good players and good feeling between them, a good acquaintance. This is my job.”

Puel has club record signing Sofiane Boufal in his squad for the first time since his £16m summer signing, with Nathan Redmond the only big name rested for the game.

Puel’s main problems are at full back.

In the left back role he is without first choices Ryan Bertrand and Matt Targett, while Cuco Martina is the only out and out right back with Cedric Soares and Jeremy Pied also out due to injury.

Puel has been keen to rotate but it seems likely Sam McQueen will make an incredible first Saints start at the San Siro following his impressive display off the bench in the win over Burnley. Whether that rules him out for Manchester City remains to be seen.

Likewise, Martina could be asked to play all three games at right back, with Maya Yoshida potentially able to deputise in either role.

Tonight’s game will be Puel’s third experience of the San Siro, and he is hoping to add a second win to his CV.

“I come in this stadium one time as player and it was not a good thing against Milan in the semi-final of the Champions League, and a good thing the second time with Lille and we win here,” he smiled.

“For the third I hope a good result and to take pleasure to see my team play good football.”

Saints squad: Fraser Forster, Stuart Taylor, Alex McCarthy, Cuco Martina, Jose Fonte, Jack Stephens, Maya Yoshida, Virgil van Dijk, Sam McQueen, Harrison Reed, Jordy Clasie, James Ward-Prowse, Oriol Romeu, Steven Davis, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Dusan Tadic, Sofiane Boufal, Olufela Olomola, Shane Long, Jay Rodriguez, Charlie Austin.