A trio of players will start a Blues game for the first time in tonight's Carling Cup second round tie at Southampton.

Ecuadorian international defender Giovanny Espinoza (pictured, right), who has played for his country 80 times, is named in the first eleven along with compatriot Chucho and Irish under-21 winger Jay O'Shea gets his big chance too.

Both Chucho (pictured, below) and O'Shea have been involved off the bench so far this campaign but the game at St. Mary's will be Blues' fans chance to see Espinoza in action for the very first time.

Manager Alex McLeish has shuffled his pack in other areas of the team too, with experienced stopper Maik Taylor coming in to allow England keeper Joe Hart a rest.

Midfielder Gary McSheffrey makes his first start of the season and there's a return to the line-up for captain Lee Carsley, who is set to play a holding role in front of the defence.

The Saints boast former Reading man Graeme Murty, signed on a free, in their line-up and even more experience in the form of Chris Perry.

Midfielder Adam Lallana is a danger man also and he scored one of the goals when Southampton beat Blues 2-0 in the same stage of the competition last season.

Southampton: Kelvin Davis, Graeme Murty, Wayne Thomas, Chris Perry, Dan Harding, Lloyd James, Paul Wotton, Jacob Mellis, Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Marek Saganowski. Subs: Bartosz Bialkowski, Olly Lancashire, Simon Gillett, Morgan Schneiderlin, Jake Thomson, Oscar Gobern, Matt Paterson.

Blues: Maik Taylor, Stephen Carr, Franck Queudrue, Giovanny Espinoza, Stuart Parnaby, Jay O'Shea, Seb Larsson, Lee Carsley, Lee Bowyer, Gary McSheffrey, Chucho. Subs: Joe Hart, Roger Johnson, Barry Ferguson, James McFadden, Garry O'Connor.

Referee: Phil Crossley