Clause Puel is facing a massive dilemma at the back as he looks to rest players for the League Cup game against Sunderland.

Clause Puel has a massive selection headache in the back four for tonights game against Sunderland, with Bertrand, Soares and Targett all missing for the past few games, it has meant that Cuco Martina and Sam McQueen have been heavily leaned on and in ideal circumstances he would probably prefer to rest them going into tonights game.

But he would also prefer to rest at least one of his central defenders and this is where his headache starts.

In short his option to replace either full back would normally be Maya Yoshida who would also be in contention to step into central defence as he has done in the Europa League games, however the Japanese International can't be in three places at once.

Virgil Van Dijk needs a break having played in every game other than the previous League cup game aainst Crystal Palace and Cuco Martina also needs a break, not to mention Sam McQueen who has suddenly been plunged into the first team and played the best part of three matches in a week.

So Puel has to wrack his brains and come up with a solution, I think this could mean a full debut for Jack Stephens in the centre of defence, Stephens has always shown plenty of promise, but has yet to turn that promise into actually stepping up to first team contention and turning 23 in January and having been at the club for nearly six years you have to question whether he actually will.

His only first team appearance to date came almost five years ago and was a 3 minute cameo at the end of the FA Cup win at Coventry in January 2012.

However his situation mirrors that of Sam McQueen who similarly just over a week ago had only a fleeting sub appearance in the FA Cup to his name and suddenly surprised everybody.

So this could be Stephen's chance of sowing he has what it takes, I think he will play alongside probably Jose Fonte, if only for the fact that VVW needs a rest.

At full back Puel needs to rest one, I think that will be Cuco Martina with Yoshida slotting in, Puel will think that McQueen is young enough to cope with the rigours of quick games in succession, but a lot could depend on how near the injured trio of Bertrand, Soares and Targett are to fitness.

The good news is although Saints are stretched to the limit at the back they are still coping, however I still think we should have signed another central defender in the summer, but perhaps Jack Stephens will emulate Sam McQueen and show that we have more quality at the back than we thought.

Photo: Action Images

SanMarco added 10:35 - Oct 26 Yes - presumably Stephens was part of the thinking that led us not to sign one. Is dear old Gardos still on sick leave? I reckon our first choice defensive capabilities are just about as good as any in the league. I think the collective angst when VVD was writhing around on Sunday would confirm that strength-in-depth at centre-back is not something we have.
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SaintBrock added 10:40 - Oct 26 All these threads say the same thing Nick. Sam McQueen must make the most of the unexpected opportunity given to him, when the other lads are fully fit there'll be no place even on the bench for a third choice left back with no pace. St Stephens is a conundrum, he's been around SMS a long time and Puel will have had ample time to work out his strengths and weaknesses and his ability to link well with one or other of our centre-backs. That he has not been given any sort of run-out for the first team yet makes you wonder if he can really cut the mustard. He's no youngster that's for sure. Won't figure tonight and Gardos looked well off match fitness the other night, physically and mentally. You have to measure these guys against VVD in the first team, Gardos in the U23's should have had that kind of storming impact (big boy in small boy's team) but he didn't.

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saintmark1976 added 12:07 - Oct 26 I expect Yoshida will play which regretfully if nothing else, will give some of the idiots in the crowd a chance to get on his back.
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bstokesaint added 12:57 - Oct 26 The thing that annoys me Mark is that Yoshida takes stick from certain elements of the crowd even when he's done nothing wrong. The game against Inter for example. I'm not too blind to see that on average he normally has at least one lapse a match, but on the occasions he doesn't he deserves from slack. He is after all one of our players and also gets asked to play without fuss in different positions. He's not a world class player in any of them, but every squad needs their bit part players to do a job and those players should get the support from the crowd when they're on the pitch. I've noticed with our metaphoric rise over the past few seasons that we seem to have inherited a number of idiots in our fanbase.

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IanRC added 18:57 - Oct 26 Actually against Inter Yoshida made some stunning blocks.
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