Southampton vs Wrexham live: Championship build-up, team news, line-ups and latest updates

Southampton starboy Tyler Dibling has been withdrawn from training as a move to Everton nears, meaning he will likely play no part in their season opener.

And while the likes of Kyle Walker-Peters, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Aaron Ramsdale have already departed the club, Saturday’s clash will pose an opportunity for new boys Damion Downs and Joshua Quarshie to start this weekend.

Proven Championship attacking threats Adam Armstrong, Ben Brereton Diaz and Cameron Archer are also available.

Predicted Southampton XI: Bazunu; Bree, Stephens, Quarshie, Manning; Charles, Fernandez, Downes; Fraser, Archer, Armstrong.

The match will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football in the UK, with coverage starting at 11am BST.

The match will kick off at 12:30pm BST on Saturday 9 August at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton.

Off the back of three consecutive promotions from the National League, Wrexham are raring for their first game at this level in over 40 years and have been preparing as such, signing the likes of Conor Coady and Kieffer Moore in a busy summer transfer window.

And while Hollywood pair Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will be keen to make it four in a row, Southampton will look to give them an early reality check in the English second tier, having themselves felt the wrath of the Premier League in recent times.

The Saints narrowly avoided the ignominy of becoming the joint-worst side in top-flight history, finishing with only one point more than Derby County’s infamous tally of 11 in 2007/08, but under new boss Will Still, they will set their sights on bouncing straight back, as they did two seasons ago.

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of today’s Championship action.

One of the early kick offs in the second division is an intriguing clash between Southampton and Wrexham who entered the league from opposite sides of the pyramid.

Saints were relegated from the Premier League after a shocking season in which they only managed to secure 12 points. They have a new manager in Will Still and are hoping to bounce straight back up to the top flight this year.

Wrexham, meanwhile, continued their fairytale rise under their Hollywood ownership and earned a third consecutive promotion in as many seasons. They are now one step away from the Premier League and will have their sights set on another promotion this year if they can get off to a good start.

We’ll see how this match up plays out this afternoon, stick around for all the team news and build-up ahead of a 12.30pm kick off.