Southampton coach Tonda Eckert said he may change the starting lineup before the Carabao Cup second-round match against West Ham. He stressed that the Saints will play to win regardless of the competition.

After a 3-1 home victory over Stoke, Eckert told reporters that he will assess his squad over the next few days before deciding who starts against the Hammers. “We play to win every single game, independent of the competition, so we make sure that we put in a good performance on Tuesday,” he said.

Eckert highlighted the need to evaluate players who performed well in the recent match. “There are a couple of boys who left everything on the pitch today - let’s see how they are tomorrow. We have a couple of days to recover, and then it will be a decision that we make on Monday,” he added.

He listed several names that will be considered: Finn Azaz, Woody Nathan Wood, Cyle Larin, Tom Fellows, Matsuki Kuryu and Flynn Downes. “We need to see. That doesn’t mean that they don’t get minutes. I’m not sure they will all start, but let’s see,” Eckert said.

Southampton’s form has been impressive under Eckert, who took over in November. The Saints have climbed from 21st to fourth in the Championship and reached the FA Cup semi-finals, beating Premier League sides Fulham and Arsenal along the way. Eckert’s first Carabao Cup tie at the helm produced a 2-0 win at Colchester, where he fielded a strong and experienced starting line-up.

West Ham, recently relegated from the Premier League, were pre-season favourites for the Championship title. They have, however, earned only a single point from their opening two league outings. “There is no doubt about the quality they have in the team, but you have seen with the results that it’s not easy,” Eckert said. “This league is not easy, and having a good squad doesn’t mean you win football games.”

Eckert expressed excitement about facing West Ham. “I’m very excited to get an impression of that on Tuesday, but no doubt that there is a very good team that we will be facing,” he said.

The match will take place at St Mary's Stadium on Tuesday. Eckert’s comments suggest that the Saints will look to balance experience and fresh energy as they prepare for a challenging Cup tie.