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Cardiff City 3 v 5 Southampton
Carabao Cup
Wednesday, 28th August 2024 Kick-off 19:45
Adam Lallana Set To Return At Cardiff City
Tuesday, 27th Aug 2024 15:04

Southampton supporters travelling to the Carabao Cup match at Cardiff on Wednesday night , might well be watching a piece of history as Adam Lallana makes his second debut for the club.

Russell Martin has been speaking to the media ahead of the Saints game at Cardiff City and it seems that although the side will be changed from the one that lost to Nottingham Forest, it will contain a few big names and new signings.

As reported on southamptonfc.com Russell martin has had this to say about his team for the trip to Wales on Wednesday evening.

"Adam Lallana is back in the squad, Ross Stewart is back in full training, so hopefully we see him playing in the next couple of weeks.

"Kamaldeen is back. We'll have to wait and see what happens and how he reacts in training. But we're close to having a full clean bill of health."

Elsewhere the trip to Wales sees an opportunity for new signings Lesley Ugochukwu and Mateus Fernandes to gain valuable minutes.

"He needs to be the guy," said Martin on Ugochukwu. "He needs to be the king in the middle of the pitch. It will be great for him to be on the pitch rather than just at training being pushed around and told where to go.

"Matty Fernandes is a top talent, clubs all over Europe were looking at him. I think you saw a bit on Saturday of what he can bring."

So Saints supporters could well see another debut for the club in "Big Les" and that will be the one everyone will be looking at, can he be the man to step into the centre of the park and boss it.

We lacked that against Forest and although some complained about the inability of Joe Aribo & Will Smallbone to step into the gap when we were in attacking mode , that had a lot to do with the defensive duties they both had to perform, as the visitors pressed forward.

With Ugochukwu in the middle of the park that may well allow us to employ a more attacking central midfielder.

Martin also had a few words for Tyler Dibling, a player that looked impressive in his cameo role on Saturday.

"Tyler Dibling is very close and probably unlucky not to be playing in the team after his pre-season,"

"He's had two appearances off the bench and did really, really well on Saturday. Just that last little end product, which he's 18, that will come.

"He needs to play well tomorrow night and put himself even more in the frame for the team because he's been really, really impressive."

So although it is very likely that wholesale changes will be made on Wednesday evening, unlike last year at Gillingham where it was very much a collection of disgruntled players who pulled on the shirt in what was an embarrassing League Cup exit, indeed 6 of the 11 in the starting line up that night have left the club permanently already and of the 5 subs used, Alcaraz will probably be gone by the weekend and he could be joined by Tall Paul Onuachu, Kamari Doyle thought his grass would be greener at Brighton, but he is currently mowing the lawn on loan at Exeter City where so far he has come on as sub in his two games for the Devon side.

Of the other two brought on, Joe Aribo of course played Saturday as did Tyler Dibling.

Photo: Action Images



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Bowlercow added 16:33 - Aug 27
The thought of AL back in a Saints shirt doesn't excite me at all
Getting a good look at the newbies does As does seeing Tyler get at least a hour He may we'll be joined for that hour by Sam Amo
RM has been very fair to those players who got us promoted but he now needs to ease out those who will be squad players only and get minutes into some of the new players
1

Colburn added 17:56 - Aug 27
Lumley, Bree, Edwards, Wood, Taylor, Big Les, Dibling, Lallana, Amo, Edozie, Archer all need minutes. Need to score some goals and get a win under the belt whoever plays.
1


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