Saints may have had a tough run of draws in the Carabao Cup but are still hoping to make further progress in the competition.

With tonight’s third round tie at Everton being played a week later than initially planned, Saints already know their potential opponent in the next round.

For the third time in a row that is an away draw to another Premier League side.

Having beaten Brighton already and drawn Everton, the winner of tonight’s game will travel to Leicester.

It has led some fans to wonder whether it is worth going all out for victory at Goodison Park tonight, particularly with Saints’ patchy league form.

However, Hughes wants the win.

“I have always tried to give the competition the respect it deserves,” he said.

“There are only a certain amount of competitions we can realistically win, and clearly the League Cup is one of those so we want to do well if we can.

“I will make changes, clearly, because I have good players who need game time, but I did that against Brighton, another team from the Premier League, and we were able to overcome them, so we go to Everton with the intention of winning the tie.

“The changes in my view are necessary but I like to think the guys coming in will use it as an opportunity to ask more questions of myself in terms of the team in Premier League games.

“It can happen the longer you stay in the competition then the more you like to think you can see a clearer pathway to seeing a final and winning a trophy, and why wouldn’t you want to be part of that?”

While Saints are going to make wholesale changes. Hughes is expecting the same from Everton too.

“I would think so at this stage of the competition,” he admitted.

“It’s clearly still a competition we want to do well in, and we have been unfortunate with the draw with two away ties to two Premier League teams and that’s hard on us but we have got strength in depth in my view and I am hoping some of those guys will make a claim.”

The League Cup has happy memories for Hughes, who won it three times with three different clubs as a player.

“It’s a competition I have really enjoyed,” he smiled.

“I love cup ties. They generate a different atmosphere and as you get to the latter stages there is an energy about cup runs that helps your league form as well.

“I have always been of the point of view that if you can have a cup run at some point in the season then that helps your general form anyway.

“I have always been an advocate of going as far as you can in the competitions.”