Southampton FC predicted lineup vs Newport County in EFL Cup

But the Exiles are cup specialists and have sprung enough surprises in recent competition that it’s difficult to call them surprises.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has hinted at a heavily rotated side with a number of players waiting in the wings who are yet to get any minutes during the 2021-22 campaign.

We are predicting a complete change of attacking impetus, with new strikers and wingers being introduced with the task of downing the South Wales outfit.

However, some positions are still a little light on fit personnel and as such some characters will still remain from the opening two Premier League fixtures.

Here’s how we think Hasenhuttl could line up on Wednesday evening…

Goalkeeper

With Alex McCarthy being preferred for each of the first two league fixtures and not exactly covering himself in glory, it makes sense that Fraser Forster will get a go inbetween the sticks for this cup tie.

Fraser Forster hasn't featured since pre-season

Defence

This is where numbers are most limited, and the full-backs we’ve selected are interchangeable in terms of side but we expect to see a return to the starting fold for Kyle Walker-Peters, who appeared at the left of defence against United, while Yan Valery is yet to get any minutes so far this season.

Jan Bednarek should get his first start after a substitute appearance against United, partnered with Jack Stephens to give Mohammed Salisu a rest. Dynel Simeu’s B team involvement this week indicates that he won’t be in the Austrian gaffer’s plans.  

Kyle Walker-Peters will hope for a first start of the 2021-22 season

Midfield

Skipper James Ward-Prowse usually plays every minute and, assuming his prior knee injury from pre-season has fully recovered, should do again. There should also be a start for Ibrahima Diallo who has been used as a sub in both Premier League contests, resting Oriol Romeu who only recently was nursing a clash of heads.

The remainder of the team is a free-for-all, but we could see a start for Moi Elyounoussi, after Hasenhuttl has said favourable things about him in the build-up to this season. He could be partnered with Nathan Redmond, who featured in pre-season but is yet to in the 2021-22 campaign. The wingers, again, are interchangable. Stuart Armstrong may also be back in contention after his minor calf injury, but that is unknown. 

Could Nathan Redmond be in line for some more Saints action?

Strikers

The young and hungry Nathan Tella could be perfect for this cup tie, after featuring throughout pre-season and off the bench in the league. I would like his partner to be Armando Broja, but given that we haven’t seen any of him, or seen him even make the bench, one would assume he isn’t ready for a starting spot. As such, Shane Long looks set to start up front for Saints in this tie after featuring throughout pre-season, despite his uncertain future.

Shane Long's Saints future is still up in the air

Full lineup