Kevin Ball selects his ones to watch within the Southampton ranks ahead of Wednesday's EFL Cup tie.
Oriol Romeu
One player I didn’t mention last time was Oriol Romeu. He didn’t really get much of a shout under Ronald Koeman and he played very safe, but under Claude Puel he’s been given more freedom to play out from the back and influence the game. It could be a good thing for us because if we press well we could be rewarded with opportunities, but he’s a good player who came through the Pep Guardiola school of football at Barcelona. He had a few injuries when he went to Chelsea but he’s come into his own at Southampton and started to fulfil his potential.
Jay Rodriguez
Like van Dijk, Jay Rodriguez needs no introduction having scored against Sunderland in recent times. He's endured a tough couple of years due to injury so it’s good to see him playing regularly, and he could start with Puel often rotating his team for cup competitions. Sofiane Boufal could also feature having made his debut in the past week following a summer move to St Mary’s.
Harry Reed
Harry Reed is a player who Sunderland have come up against at youth level and he’s been on the fringes this season. He played against Crystal Palace in the last round and he’s made 22 first-team appearances despite being just 21, so he’s a midfielder to watch out for on Wednesday night.
Charlie Austin
When I discussed Charlie Austin earlier this season he wasn’t play regularly, but with Shane Long injured he’s stepped up and done the business. Finishing is his strong point but he’s also very good in the air and he will work hard in and out of possession. When the ball goes wide he will be straight into the mix to try and get on the end of it, so our defenders need to keep a close eye on his movement with and without the ball.
Nathan Redmond
Nathan Redmond has made a big, big impression during the first stages of his Southampton career. He’s a player I like lot and he has a big future ahead of him; he has great feet and is excellent in one on one situations. He scored against Man City to bring his tally to three goals in nine league games, but he also deserves credit for adapting to a new position because he’s been playing centrally rather than on the wing.
Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk is a defender who is very comfortable on the ball and he can also step into midfield which helps Southampton push up the pitch. He’s a big threat from set pieces because of his aerial ability and his physicality and athleticism means he loves to defend and he’s not afraid of players with pace. He’s a fantastic centre back and Sunderland fans will no doubt remember him after he netted that late equaliser last season, and he’s started this season in formidable form – not least on Sunday against Manchester City.