Will Still claims Southampton have a ‘remarkable’ player the fans haven’t even seen yet

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Will Still might not have landed the EFL Cup giant-killing he was craving, but at least the Southampton head coach returned from Liverpool with a few selection dilemmas.

And while Rob Edwards highlighted former Middlesbrough ace Finn Azaz as one of many potential Saints matchwinners ahead of Saturday’s 3pm kick-off, the visiting manager was keen to highlight a Southampton squad with ‘quality all over the pitch’ and most certainly on the substitutes’ bench.

Premier League champions Liverpool needed a late Hugo Ekitike winner at Anfield in midweek. That was despite facing a Southampton team with nine changes from their previous fixture.

Will Still saw ‘a lot more positives’ to build upon on Merseyside.

Elias Jelert and Leo Scienza made positive contributions on their full debuts, Nathan Wood suggested he could solve those defensive issues, while Caspar Jander was a lot better at Anfield than he was at Hull City a few days prior.

Goalkeeper George Long was in the Southampton squad for only the second time, as well. With neither Gavin Bazunu nor Alex McCarthy covering themselves in glory, a glovesman with over a century of Championship appearances under his belt may have a part to play himself over the coming months.

Will Still hails George Long as Southampton get selection dilemma ahead of Middlesbrough

Aiming for a first win since the opening weekend against ten-man Wrexham, Will Still insists that competition for places can only be a positive even if the feeling is that he is yet to nail down his most effective XI.

“I think [Bazunu and McCarthy] are two good keepers. George Long has also done remarkably well in training, and that’s what we want,” Still tells the Daily Echo while league leaders Middlesbrough plot to end a 22-year wait for a win at St Mary’s.

“We want people fighting for places and putting their hand up and staking a claim if it’s there to be claimed in every position on the pitch.

“But it doesn’t have to be that added pressure of, ‘If I make a mistake, I’m going to be out’. Settle, relax about what you’re about to do, and enjoy it.”

Still preparing for Rob Edwards visit and Finn Azaz has a point to prove

Signed on loan from Norwich City over the summer, former Millwall, Hull City and Sheffield United stopper Long feels an unlikely solution to Southampton’s issues. The Steel City-born keeper has made plenty of avoidable errors himself in more recent times.

McCarthy, though, was the man at fault at Anfield as he gifted Alexander Isak a first Liverpool goal.

“We’ve got big choices to make,” Still added, his team a colossal 18 places and ten points adrift of Saturday’s opponents already. “In the team itself, we have to make the decisions. But that’s what we’re paid for so that’s what we’ll do tomorrow.

“It’s important because we’re playing Middlesbrough, who are top of the league and who are playing very efficiently. Well-organised and drilled.

“I’m fully aware of the choices that need to be made, and I think we’ll just make them. I think whoever we feel deserves to play will play. We need to get the balance right of players in that system.”

One of many Saints players with a point to prove, Will Still is determined to get Finn Azaz performing following that £12 million move from Middlesbrough.