Southampton travel to Vicarage Road on Sunday as they look to progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
The priority for Russell Martin is unquestionably promotion from the Championship this season but, with the club on a record-breaking unbeaten run, Southampton will not want to halt their momentum with a cup defeat.
That being said, this game is expected to be used as an opportunity for both players who have found themselves with less game time than they would have liked and academy talents to get their opportunity, just as they did against Walsall in the previous round.
In Watford, Southampton are of course facing Championship opposition so they can expect a much tougher afternoon than the 4-0 win they cruised to against League Two Walsall at the start of January. That means it will be a good test for those players on the periphery and a good performance could see minutes improve in the league as a result.
What team will Russell Martin select against Watford?
Joe Lumley made his Southampton debut in goal in the last round and impressed with his work on the ball as well as looking comfortable on the rare occasions he was called upon. Therefore, Lumley will return as the cup goalkeeper, with Gavin Bazunu being given a rest.
With James Bree still expected to be absent through injury, the back four is expected to have a very similar look to the Walsall win. Mason Holgate should start at right-back despite rumours of a return to parent club Everton before a loan elsewhere due to lack of minutes at the Saints.
Jack Stephens will play in his favoured position in the centre of the defence and it is a toss up between Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jan Bednarek as to who partners the Southampton captain. 17-year-old Jayden Meghoma showed he can be Ryan Manning‘s understudy at left-back against Walsall and should resume the role in a bigger challenge against Watford.
In a midfield packed with options, complete rotation is expected. However, this does not necessarily mean the midfield will be significantly weaker as the players to come in have quality in abundance and can consider themselves unlucky not to be regular starters in the league. Flynn Downes will likely be rested and Northern Ireland international Shea Charles will step into the holding midfield role.
Ahead of Charles, Martin confirmed last week that new signing Joe Rothwell will start as he looks to get to grips with his new manager’s tactics following his loan from Bournemouth. That just leaves the more attacking of the three midfield spots up for grabs. Stuart Armstrong has been performing at an exceptionally high level over the past few months but, at 31, may need the rest. This will allow the incredibly gifted Carlos Alcaraz to come in; a player who many feel Martin must find a spot for in the team given his obvious ability but who has been unlucky to have Armstrong ahead of him.
Che Adams has been Southampton’s primary source of goals in recent weeks, scoring five in six games as he has hit top form. With his contract due to expire in the summer, there has been a lot of talk about Adams leaving this month should Southampton’s evaluation be met. However, as the window heads towards its close, the chances of Adams staying until the end of the season look increasingly likely. The Scotland international will take a seat on the bench for this one, though, with Sekou Mara to come in as the central striker, having scored last round and impressed in a number of recent league cameos.
On either flank, Southampton could have a really exciting look. A right winger has been the priority for Martin this transfer window, but as yet the cub have been unable to sign any of their targets for that position. Adam Armstrong has been playing this role excellently, with 14 goals and 11 assists, but 17-year-old Samuel Amo-Ameyaw should again be given a cup opportunity to show his talent on the right wing.
On the left, Ryan Fraser used the opportunity to start in the last round to show he could fill the void left by injuries to both Kamaldeen Sulemana and Sam Edozie and has continued that form in the league since. Sulemana is now back in training but this game may come to soon for him, so with Fraser the only fit senior left winger Martin may not risk him. This could see another academy product given the opportunity, with Tyler Dibling potentially coming in on the left to give Southampton a very exciting, but very raw, front three.
Cameron Bragg is another youth player expected to be involved in some capacity. Kamari Doyle would also have been included in the squad but the 18-year-old signed for Brighton this week, citing lack of first-team opportunities as a reason for his departure.
With all this in mind, here is how we expected Southampton to line up in the fourth round FA Cup clash against Watford:
(4-3-3): Lumley; Holgate, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Meghoma; Charles, Rothwell, Alcaraz, Amo-Ameyaw, Mara, Dibling