Southampton face Everton in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night with Russell Martin expected to ring the changes for the trip to Goodison Park.
The Premier League is the obvious priority for Russell Martin but Southampton can help stop the rot with a win over relegation rivals Everton in the cup.
Southampton have lost four from four in the top flight, with their only win of the season coming in the 5-3 win over Cardiff City in the last round of the Carabao Cup.
With Ipswich Town coming to St Mary’s in the league on Saturday, Martin will perhaps not welcome this midweek cup tie but it should represent an opportunity for a number of players to stake their claim for a starting spot in the league.
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With that in mind, here are three players who must seize that opportunity against Everton.
Adam Armstrong must show Russell Martin was wrong to drop him from Southampton side
Adam Armstrong was key to promotion from the Championship last season, scoring 24 goals and providing 13 assists.
He also famously scored the only goal of the game in the 1-0 play-off final win over Leeds United to secure a return to the Premier League, but has struggled so far this season.
Having played in the top flight for the Saints for two years prior to relegation and scored just four goals, there were doubts over Armstrong’s ability to make the step up and these have been highlighted with a baron start to the campaign.
Martin took decisive action on Saturday as he axed the striker from the starting XI for the first time in the league this season and, tellingly, did not even bring him on despite making five substitutions.
The Southampton boss has confirmed Armstrong will get a chance against Everton and it is one he must take to show he can score against Premier League opposition.
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Will Smallbone another struggling Southampton promoted star
Another player who had question marks over his ability to make an impact at Premier League level is Saints academy graduate Will Smallbone.
Martin is a big fan of the Ireland midfielder but he has struggled to adapt to the increased pace of the top flight and has failed to get his passing game going so far.
A minor issue on international duty saw Smallbone left out of the squad in the 3-0 defeat to Manchester United at the weekend but it is likely he would have lost his place regardless of his fitness.
Against Everton, Smallbone can put himself back in the reckoning for a huge game against Ipswich on Saturday.
Deadline day signing Maxwel Cornet must stake Southampton claim
Maxwel Cornet was one of three Deadline Day signings for Southampton, with Aaron Ramsdale and Ryan Fraser the others.
The winger has joined on a season-long loan from West Ham where he has been unable to recapture his Burnley form that saw the Hammers pay £17 million to sign him.
Injuries have played their part in that and Martin knows that if Southampton can keep Cornet fit they could have a real player on their hands.
Cornet needs to show that against Everton having made his debut off the bench against United as he has been brought in to provide a creative spark for what has been a blunt Saints attack so far this season, scoring just on league goal.
A strong showing at Goodison Park could see the Ivory Coast international thrown straight into the side against Ipswich.