New Saints boss Ivan Juric will name his first XI against West Ham. _(Image: Southampton FC/Matt Watson)_
NEW boss Ivan Juric will name his first Saints XI when they face West Ham at St Mary's this afternoon.
Juric has no new injury concerns and is able to select club captain Jack Stephens, while the recently unseen Will Smallbone and Armel Bella-Kotchap have been pictured in training.
The Croatian will implement a new style at Saints but insisted he will not immediately abandon any previous plans.
Juric could lean on the team selected by interim boss Simon Rusk, who appears to be working alongside the former Torino boss, against Fulham.
Here's how we expect Southampton to start as they begin a new era on Boxing Day...
New Saints boss Ivan Juric will be in the dugout against West Ham. _(Image: PA)_ **Goalkeeper**
Saints kept their second clean sheet of the Premier League season at Fulham on Sunday and had **Aaron Ramsdale** to thank.
The England international played with a modified four-finger glove, having rushed back from injury, and could be crucial against the Hammers.
**READ MORE: [Ramsdale expects Saints to 'thrive' under Juric's 'aggressive nature'](https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/24813249.ramsdale-expects-southampton-thrive-ivan-juric/)**
Aaron Ramsdale made his return from injury against Fulham _(Image: Southampton FC/PA)_**Defenders**
Juric favours a system with three centre-backs so we don't expect too much variance here. **Jan Bednarek, Taylor Harwood-Bellis** and **Nathan Wood** should keep their place.
**Yukinari Sugawara** will provide width down the right while **Kyle Walker-Peters** or Ryan Manning could start down the left. The former gets our nod because of his top-flight experience.
Fulham’s Antonee Robinson in action against Southampton's Yukinari Sugawara. _(Image: Ben Whitley/PA)_ **Midfielders**
Juric could deploy several different midfield systems but **Flynn Downes** and **Mateus Fernandes** will be central.
Loanee **Lesley Ugochukwu** made a surprise return to the bench against Fulham and impressed with his second-half cameo. He should get a chance to start.
Lesley Ugochukwu impressed off the bench against Fulham. _(Image: Ben Whitley/PA)_ **Forwards**
Saints went long against Fulham and struggled to make the ball stick but Ramsdale expects they won't go as long under Juric.
With that in mind, **Tyler Dibling** and **Cameron Archer** could start alongside each other. If Paul Onuachu is ready to start, he should.
Tyler Dibling was subbed at half-time against Fulham after a difficult battle with Calvin Bassey. _(Image: Ben Whitley/PA)_ _**Full predicted team:**_
_Saints (3-4-1-2): Ramsdale; Sugawra, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Walker-Peters; Downes, Ugochukwu, Fernandes; Archer, Dibling._