Southampton will give Stevenage respect insists Jos Hooiveld

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester United and Arsenal might be next up in the Barclays Premier League but defender Jos Hooiveld insists Southampton will give Stevenage the utmost respect in tonight's Capital One Cup tie.

The south coast side began their first top-flight campaign in seven years with a trip to champions Manchester City and, following Saturday's defeat to Wigan, welcome United to St Mary's before facing the Gunners..

Before that, though, Saints have a slightly less glamorous Capital One Cup second round tie at Stevenage to contend with.

Nigel Adkins has pledged to make changes to his side but defender Hooiveld, like his manager, will take their third tier opponents seriously, especially as Saints were in the same division not so long ago.

"That is somewhere we were two years ago so that is nothing to make jokes about," the Dutchman said.

"That is English football, you know? They can go and play and we have to do well. We need to pick it up again.

"It doesn't matter who it is. It's 0-0 when you start."

It is yet to be seen whether Hooiveld will be risked for the match at Broadhall Way given Saints' lack of central defensive options heading into their set of tough league games.

Adkins plans to make a number of changes for the match, with a number of academy graduates and squad players expected to start.

Tadanari Lee is one of those as the Japan international continues his rehabilitation after suffering a foot injury at the end of last season.

"It will be similar to what we did last year," Adkins said of his Capital One Cup plans.

"Obviously the objective is to get the youth players through the system as well as players that have been in the squad that have not had the games.

"We have Tadanari Lee and he has been out after an operation on his foot at the end of last season.

"He played 70 minutes in a development game and has the perfect opportunity now in his rehabilitation.

"He is getting closer to full fitness and could actually start the game against Stevenage so that is what we will be looking to do for Chung (Lee)."

PA