Southampton comes up against Wrexham in their first Championship match tomorrow. Will Still has taken the hotseat, and he needs to win his first match to set the Saints up for the season.
It was always expected, but Southampton has lost a fair few players already. The Saints have bidded farewell to key players including Aaron Ramsdale and Kyle Walker-Peters, to name just a few. Tyler Dibling is still technically in the team, but he won't play as a transfer awaits.
The Saints signed two players from Germany - Damion Downs, a USMNT star, and Joshua Quarshie. Both players are expected to make competitive debuts, which could shock fans.
Predicted Southampton lineup vs Wrexham
GK - Gavin Bazunu. With Aaron Ramsdale out of the fray, this gives Irish goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu a shot. Bazunu in the Championship is not a strange sight for the Saints, since he was the starting goalkeeper two seasons ago.
RB - James Bree. Played for Southampton in the Championship last time out, and now he's back.
CB - Joshua Quarshie. It remains to be seen where Will Still plans to use the new signing long-term. His strongest position is through the center. However, he could easily be swapped with James Bree if Quarshie is needed off the right.
CB - Jack Stephens. Stephens is no stranger to Championship opposition. Love him or loathe him, Stephens is built for stories like this.
LB - Ryan Manning. Again, Quarshie could play here. However, given Manning is strongest on the left and the Saints don't have great depth, this is likely where Manning will play.
CM - Mateus Fernandes. He was one of Southampton's best players last season. The best of a bad bunch, sure, but Fernandes could become one of the promotion heroes for Southampton this season.
CM - Shea Charles. Already proven in the Championship, so this won't be a step-up for Charles. It'll be great to see him operating the red and white again (just not the red and white that Wednesday feared).
CM - Adam Armstrong. Certainly not his strongest position, but he's a team player and when need's must.
LW - Ryan Fraser. Veteran of the game, Fraser remains the Saints
CF - Damion Downs. A competitive debut for the USMNT star. Coming from Bundesliga 2 to the Championship is quite a step up, but he's predicted to achieve big things with the Saints this season.
RW - Cameron Archer. Might fear competition from Jay Robinson, who has impressed in pre-season, but as it stands, Archer's position seems pretty comfortable. He is proven in the Championship, after all.