Southampton will make changes against Man United - what will they be?

Whoever drops out of the team will have an immediate chance to stake a claim in the Carabao Cup third round at Everton a few days later.

The boss has shown loyalty to players who have "built up so much credit" with an unchanged outfield in the first three Premier League matches.

Aaron Ramsdale, a potential £25million signing replacing Alex McCarthy, became the first replacement in a starting XI at Brentford.

Aaron Ramsdale is already the club's new starting goalkeeper (Image: PA)

Saints have been beaten in all three outings against Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and the Bees - scoring just one goal.

Martin must wait until Saturday, September 14 (12:30pm), for the visit of Erik ten Hag's Red Devils and a chance to put right the early season wrongs.

His patience with some of last season's heroes has been tested, while the next generation of Saints players have threatened to prove a point from the bench.

Martin will likely make at least two changes to face United, with one in midfield and one in attack feeling all but guaranteed.

Portuguese youth international Mateus Fernandes and natural number nine Cameron Archer both came on at half-time at the Gtech Community Stadium.

They are just 21 and 22 years old respectively but are in pole position to come into the starting side. Will Smallbone and Adam Armstrong could make way.

Martin referenced Armstrong's miss against the Bees on a couple of occasions, suggesting he would have scored the same chance last season.

Academy graduate Smallbone, meanwhile, might keep his place ahead of Joe Aribo but has made less of an impact than the Nigerian so far.

Fernandes will add a link between the defensive and attacking thirds, as well as some freedom and risk in and around the opposition box.

United, under ten Hag, have failed to sort their midfield problem - Casemiro, 32, was hooked at half-time of their 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool.

A lot is asked of Kobbie Mainoo, 19. Saints need to get at United through their midfield and Fernandes has the dynamism required to be a threat.

Mateus Fernandes opened the scoring at Cardiff City (Image: Matt Watson - Southampton FC)

Buoyed by his brace of good finishes in the Carabao Cup at Cardiff City, Archer would have enthusiastically taken that Armstrong chance.

The biggest debate for Martin will likely be whether he makes a third change or not - and an obvious candidate is knocking on the door.

Creative midfielder Tyler Dibling, still only 18 years old, is not at Staplewood this week due to a debut call-up to England's under-19s setup.

He looks like Southampton's biggest threat every time he is on the pitch and has been involved in five of the six goals scored this campaign.

This feels like a good time to suggest starts for Adam Lallana, as well as deadline-day additions Ryan Fraser and Maxwel Cornet, are unlikely for fitness reasons.

Martin, unless he went with a gung-ho midfield of Flynn Downes, Fernandes and Dibling, would have to make a system change to facilitate Dibling's entrance.

The manager could do this with a switch from a 5-3-2 to a 4-3-3 formation and this would mean benching one of his three centre-backs. 

Jan Bednarek is nailed on. Taylor Harwood-Bellis, a £20million signing from Man City, is probably the favourite to drop out in this situation.

Martin has tried to pick captain Jack Stephens whenever possible, scarred by some of the collapses last campaign when he did not play. 

Harwood-Bellis, meanwhile, has been substituted off by Martin in the last two defeats - having been engaged in a heated discussion in the opening match too.

The 22 year old often tries the killer through pass to turn the opposition around and bring Yukinari Sugawara into a threatening position, but it comes with risk.

He is also away with England's under-21s, which might give Stephens - alongside Ronnie Edwards as the only senior defender back at base - an edge.

Captain Jack Stephens could make way in a system change (Image: Matt Watson - Southampton FC)

Aside from dropping one of his trusted defenders, the only other reason Martin considers holding Dibling back is physical load.

Romeo Lavia and Tino Livramento both started playing week-in, week-out in the Premier League for Saints at 18 and look at what has happened to them.

Livramento suffered meniscus damage in his first season - before his anterior cruciate ligament injury ruled him out for 12 months.

Lavia, despite earning a £53million move to Chelsea, has only played 100 minutes in the Premier League in the time Saints were relegated and promoted again.

Despite this, Martin could hand Dibling a first Premier League start on the right with the knowledge that Armstrong is ready and waiting to relieve him.

Such a system change might limit the areas in which Kyle Walker-Peters, currently successfully operating as a free man in midfield, could pop up.

Some might call for the likes of Lesley Ugochukwu to start but with the Frenchman away on under-21s international duty that is unlikely.

If Martin concludes 36 year old Lallana is fit to give 60 minutes, it would be no surprise to see him handed a first start for Saints in over 10 years.

A minimum of two changes are expected with a third likely if a system change is facilities. Any more would feel like a radical change, but not impossible.

Fernandes and Archer should be given their first Premier League starts at Saints while Dibling deserves to be a third - would you make more?