Southampton manager Ronald Koeman not taking Vitesse lightly

Southampton may boast a convincing advantage against Vitesse Arnhem, but manager Ronald Koeman says it would be "crazy" to jeopardise their Europa League dream by fielding a weakened side.

The first leg of this third qualifying round tie could not have gone much better for Southampton last week, ending a 12-year absence from continental competition in style.

A potentially tricky encounter with Vitesse was dealt with impressively as goals from Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic and Shane Long secured a comprehensive 3-0 win at sold-out St Mary's.

Long, who wrapped up last week’s win after coming off the bench, is absent through illness, although Steven Caulker is in line for his debut after arriving from QPR last week.

“Football is sometimes strange and if you don’t start with enough concentration, if you don’t play with the same intensity in pressing the opponent, then it is possible that you get a difficult evening,” said Koeman.

Koeman will be forced into at least one change after Jordy Clasie sustained a hamstring injury in the first leg, but other than that he has promised to play a strong team.

West Ham changes

Meanwhile, West Ham have taken a much-changed squad to face Astra Giurgiu this evening, despite being held to a 2-2 draw in the first leg at Upton Park last week.

Bilic watched his 10 men let a two-goal lead slip to the Romanian outfit in the third qualifying round first leg and was later sent to the stands himself but, with a tricky away trip to Arsenal opening their Premier League campaign on Sunday, he opted against bringing a full-strength squad.