Claude Puel Admits Youngsters Will Feature Against Sunderland in EFL Cup Clash

​Ahead of Southampton's game with Sunderland on Wednesday in the EFL Cup 4th Round, Saints manager Claude Puel stated he'll be playing some of the club's youngsters - due to both injury and tiredness concerns within his squad.

According to ​southamptonfc.com, Puel claimed: "We have injuries to Ryan Bertrand, Targett, Soares, Jérémy Pied and, after that, all the squad is available, but some players will stay at the training ground to recover and to give chances for other players and younger players to start in the team.”

The players likely to be chosen in their stead are U23 starlets Jack Stephens, Josh Sims and Olufela Olomola; however, Jake Hesketh, who got his chance in the last round against Crystal Palace and scored, won't be available because of injury. 

While some first-team regulars will surely make the team and the bench, Puel clearly hopes to keep the squad fresh ahead of another busy set of games in the Premier League and Europa League.

“Playing every three days is very hard, of course, for the squad, but it will be interesting, because it can develop the players and we can take pleasure to play all these games.” 

As for Sunderland manager David Moyes, he's well aware of the threat Southampton possess, regardless of who plays on the night -  speaking at the Sunderland press conference, he stated:

''We're going to Southampton, who are playing very well and we know that going there will be another task to get a result.''