NATHAN Jones stressed there was no “categorical number one” regarding his goalkeeping options at Saints and insisted: “We’ve got three goalkeepers here that we trust.”

Summer signing Gavin Bazunu has played every minute since Jones’s arrival at St Mary’s – having been first choice under Ralph Hasenhuttl in the Premier League.

Alex McCarthy had played the two previous rounds of the Carabao Cup, until Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over Lincoln City, where Bazunu was selected.

McCarthy had previously worked with and played alongside the Saints boss while on loan at Yeovil. He started 18 times alongside Jones as the Glovers finished 15th in League One during the 2009-10 season.

Veteran stopper Willy Caballero, signed as emergency cover when McCarthy and Fraser Forster were injured last season, is also an option for the Saints boss.

Asked whether Bazunu would be his first choice in the Premier League as well, Jones replied: “We’ve got competition. We’ve got three goalkeepers here that we trust.

“I know Alex really well and Gavin obviously was starting keeper when I came and against Liverpool had a fantastic game, so I didn’t feel no reason to change.

“This (against Lincoln) was a different cup game from a normal one, where you probably would have rotated slightly more. This gave us a little bit of rhythm going into the Brighton game, so that’s why we went with the side that we did.”

Saints host Brighton in the Premier League on Boxing Day, with Jones stressing there would be a battle for places all over the pitch in his group.  

“There’s no-one that’s a categorical starter. There’s competition right throughout the squad,” he added.

“If my centre-forwards don’t score, we have others we bring in. If my full-backs or centre-halves don’t defend well enough then we have others in the team. That’s what we need.

“There’s no categorical number one or anything, there’s competition.”

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook