News summary
Tonda Eckert would not put a number on the changes he plans for the cup tie. He kept coming back to fitness.
Finn Azaz came through a first full 90 at the weekend and Flynn Downes has been holding the midfield together. Eckert conceded that Cyle Larin "has been pushing minutes".
Would Divin Mubama or Lewis Dobbin get a first home start? "That might be one for Tuesday."
He was blunter about Larin. Put to him that the Canadian is the best striker in the Championship, Eckert answered "He is", then "Everything about him".
Larin has scored in every game so far. Nobody around the club is arguing about his form this season.
Eckert also confirmed that another analyst is joining to replace Eduard Schmidt.
Jay Robinson made his Serie A debut on Sunday, seven minutes off the bench at the San Siro as Monza lost 4-1 to Inter. Monza are managed by former Saints boss Ivan Juric.
Moses Sesay had a better weekend. He came on at half time, and Colchester turned things around.
There were minutes too for Nick Oyekunle, who closed out Leyton Orient's 2-0 win at Wigan. Tommy Dobson-Ventura has started every National League game for Eastleigh and played all 90 of Saturday's win over Scunthorpe.
Some supporters have read Leo Scienza's quiet start as disinterest. He was carrying a shoulder problem in the week before Stoke, and 7 goals and 10 assists last season should buy a fair bit of patience.
Transfer news
Aston Villa's second offer for Taylor Harwood-Bellis was turned down on Sunday night because the offer is still too low. Worth £20m with another £4m in add ons, it sits under the £30m Southampton keep asking for.
Both sides have moved since last week, though.
Personal terms were never the issue, since Harwood-Bellis wants the move. Eckert left him out against Stoke.
Unai Emery also has a line open to Club Brugge for Joel Ordonez, who would cost about the same.
Southampton are waiting on Nelson Deossa, who has to decide whether he stays at Real Betis. Olympiacos, River Plate, West Ham and Wolves want the same answer, though Deossa himself has played down every one of the links.
Preston want Cameron Archer on loan. He has slipped down the order at Southampton and is one of three strikers on their shortlist while Milutin Osmajic heads to Genoa.
Absolut Fussball's report has Celtic weighing up Yukinari Sugawara, because Alistair Johnston could be out until November. Werder Bremen, who had him last season, has already said no to a permanent deal.
Ben Brereton Diaz was left out against Stoke too. He has still not scored for Southampton, and an exit looks certain before the deadline.
Matchday
Kick off is 7.45pm, with Ruebyn Ricardo refereeing, and the match is available to watch live on Sky Sports+.
Caspar Jander might be back for this one, and Eckert has no fresh injuries to worry about after Saturday.
Tomas Soucek misses the trip with the ankle ligament damage he picked up at the World Cup. Pablo Felipe is a doubt too.
Keiber Lamadrid should come straight back in.
James Ward-Prowse could line up at St Mary's as an opponent for the first time, and Kyle Walker-Peters has started all three of West Ham's games. Neither has a league win to show for it yet.
Saints Marching opinion
Nathan Wood spent Saturday doing Taylor Harwood-Bellis's job and the Northam End barely noticed. A club meaning to keep its vice captain does not usually spend an afternoon proving it can manage without him.
Villa's initial offer is exactly what Southampton paid Manchester City for him. Two years of improvement would earn the club nothing.
Emery had already sold Ezri Konsa when Villa lost 4-0 at Brighton on Sunday. A side shipping four on the opening weekend does not spend the next nine days arguing over a paltry million, whatever the accountants at Villa Park think.
Waiting has a cost. Every day this drags on is a day the club is not spending that money on the centre back and central midfielder it plainly needs.
The window shuts on the 1st September, so there is no time left to enjoy the standoff.
Negotiate a fair price now. Then go and spend it.
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