SAINTS under-21s will now face Nottingham Forest under-21s in August after a change to their pre-season schedule.

Southampton will now travel to Nottinghamshire on Wednesday, August 2 to face the Premier League side's youngsters in a friendly.

The 1 PM kick off will be played behind closed doors at The Nigel Doughty Academy.

The new fixture replaces the previously scheduled meeting between Saints and Swansea's under-21s, which was set to be played on Friday, August 4, the same day as the first team's Championship opener against Sheffield Wednesday.

Swansea are unable to carry out the fixture as they are set to face Caerau Ely in the second round of the Welsh league cup on the same weekend.

Saints under-21s are next in action at Torquay United on Saturday, July 29.

This season will see Southampton compete in a newly formatted 26-team single-division Premier League 2.