Saints travel to Sunderland in confident mood, after coming through a difficult first month of the season and now with new signings in the side, they will also know what the squad will look like for the next four months at least.

Even some of the biggest critics of Saints are starting to admit that not only have the club had a good start, but Russell Martin has slowly but surely revamped the squad, of course the quality of those coming in, might not match that of those who have left, but they are signings to do the job in hand in the Championship, not to play in the Premier League, at least not just yet.

Russell Martin though will just do as he has done since his arrival, get on with things quietly.

But he has a bit of thinking to do ahead of the game, for perhaps the first time this season he has selection issues to deal with in a good way, although I would not expect Friday mornings new signing Taylor Harwood-Bellis to play any part in this game, but Mason Holgate who signed just too late could well be in the squad if not the starting line up.

I would expect the side at kick off to be nearer the one that finished the game against QPR, than the one that started it.

The first big decision though is the centre of defence, does he bring in Mason Holgate or does he stick with Shea Charles, if he opts for Holgate how does he find a place for Charles who has been excellent in the last two games.

Perhaps he could do that by playing Charles in a back three with Jan Bednarek & Holgate alongside him, then a central pairing of Downes & Stuart Armstrong, flanked by wingbacks Kyle Walker-Peters & Ryan Manning.

That could leave Charly Alcatraz & Ryan Fraser flanking Adam Armstrong up front.

That might be a tad unfair on Sam Edozie who would then join Sam Amo-Ameyaw , Joe Aribo, Sekou Mara, James Bree & a couple of others on the bench and they could even be joined by Che Adams or Bella Kotchap.

The squad isn't quite there yet as any new signings today won't be able to play, but they will be ready for the resumption after the International break, as well might be Will Smallbone.

Sunderland have had a mixed start to the season, they lost their first two against early pacemakers Ipswich & Preston, then beat bottom 4 side Rotherham and a draw at mid table Coventry.

Their early results mean Saints can go into this game with confidence, but Sunderland are a good side at home and the crowd will be fired up after Saints pursuit of Ross Stewart & Patrick Roberts.

This is a Saints squad that has evolved and is growing into a new way of playing, the truth is we are getting better with every game, yes there will be blips during the season, but we are learning all the time, we are now stronger than we were a week ago when we started against QPR and in two weeks time we will be stronger still.

The possession game is working and although we are going to get caught from time to time, we are also creating a lot more chances up the other end, we just have to keep scoring more than we concede.

If Southampton can win this one we will truly have posted our intent to challenge for promotion and set ourselves up nicely for what will be a big big game against Leicester City in two weeks.

Photo: Action Images

WestSussexSaint added 08:25 - Sep 2 RM strikes me as a guy that sticks to a game plan and doesn’t shuffle things unnecessarily. So I don’t see him going to a back 3 just to accommodate players. The main question around Holgate starting is that he is a right sided centre back and it would mean Bednarek switching to the left side whereas we saw last week that Charles can play as a left sided CB. Assuming Holgate starts in defence then could the midfield accommodate both Charles and Downes? Playing both would give a solid platform for the third central midfielder to be more attacking and that would fit AA who has been at his best this season in that role. Of course that then assumes Che will play. RM said that Che would be involved if he was at the club so it just depends if that is from the start or not. The wide players would be Fraser and Edozie. This would then mean lots of options off the bench such as Charley, Stu, Smallbone (if fit), Sulimana (if fit and ready to knuckle down). After fearing a transfer window which would decimate the squad we look to have one of the strongest groups in the league and plenty of options for RM.

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highfield49 added 08:49 - Sep 2 There are going to be supporters who believe that the squad has been weakened by the loss of several players, that is those who didn't actually want to play for the club after picking up their loyalty bonuses in June. My view is that the core of the team has been strengthened and I genuinely believe we are going to get promoted this season. As for the game at Sunderland I don't think Russell Martin will make too many changes from the team that finished the QPR match. The international break is a great opportunity to finalise the shape and squad for the weeks ahead. Thankfully the new manager won't squander the opportunity, unlike the individual who effectively got us relegated following the World Cup break.

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Bowlercow added 09:02 - Sep 2 I don't see too many changes this side of the international break and I expect the team that finished against QPR will start against Sunderland Imagine though a front 3 of Adams A Armstrong and Stewart supplied by the likes of Stu A and Alcaraz For the first time in a long while we have a squad with goals in it
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