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Sam McQueen is on stand-by to make his first Saints start as Claude Puel faces an injury crisis at left back.
First choice Ryan Bertrand is likely to be sidelined with a hamstring problem, picked up on England duty, for the upcoming triple header, which sees Saints take on Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday before trips to face Inter Milan at the San Siro and Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
With Puel keen to rotate his squad, it leaves him short of cover with only Matt Targett to call upon as a recognised senior left back.
However, the situation is potentially even more difficult, with Targett having picked up an injury while training with the England under-21s.
Aidy Boothroyd left Targett out of the squad to face Kazakhstan last week as a precaution, but expected him to be fit to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in Walsall yesterday.
But Targett was still unable to take part and was allowed to leave the squad to return to Saints for treatment.
Though there is optimism that Targett will make a quick recovery, it is highly unlikely he will be deemed fit enough to risk over three games in the space of a week.
That leaves McQueen as the next left back option.
The Southampton born 21-year-old, who went to the Mountbatten School in Romsey, was only converted to the position in pre-season, where Puel saw his defensive potential with McQueen having previously been considered as an attacking midfielder.
Saints have continued to use McQueen at left back in the under-23s, including in the Checkatrade Trophy, under the watchful eye of Martin Hunter who has been helping him develop in the role.
It could be that Saints discover just how far he has come if he is thrust into battle and handed a first senior start.
The other options for Puel could include playing Maya Yoshida on the left side of defence, with the 28-year-old having figured there before.
However, it would be a push for him to be ready to start against Burnley after an international break that sees him have to return from Australia.
Cuco Martina was recruited as a versatile player who could figure anywhere along the backline, but with doubts over the fitness of Cedric Soares after he limped off in Saints’ last game against Leicester he may well be needed elsewhere.
Saints are also waiting to discover the fitness of Shane Long, who scored for the Republic of Ireland but came off injured.
The club expect that Sofiane Boufal and Jay Rodriguez will be fit to return to action.
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