Whilst being successful in both the Premier League and Champions League are our top priorities this summer, the small matter of defending our Carabao Cup crown is another big task ahead for Eddie Howe and the squad.

We kick off our campaign at home to Bradford on Wednesday night, having been handed a favourable draw owing to our status as a European team.

And with results not having gone our way so far this season, Howe will be keen to kick off our defence in style with a much-needed emphatic win.

But with some crunch league fixtures soon after the cup game, the gaffer knows he will have to pick Wednesday night’s team very carefully if he wants to avoid player fatigue whilst still retaining quality on the pitch.

Howe bullish on team selection

Speaking to the media ahead of the cup clash at St James’ Park, Eddie Howe insisted that the game against Bradford is a top priority, even with a difficult game against Arsenal at the Emirates on the horizon.

The boss made seven changes from the side that faced Barcelona in Sunday’s game against Bournemouth, with the likes of Sven Botman, Malick Thiaw, Lewis Miley and Joe Willock each returning to the starting XI.

Some expect us to save several big guns for this weekend’s league clash with Arsenal, but Howe’s comments suggest he won’t be taking League One leaders Bradford lightly.

“We are not looking at Arsenal, we are looking at Bradford – massive game for us.”

“We want to defend our title, and we want to make a really strong effort to do well in these early rounds. Bradford are top of the league, so we can’t underestimate them. Arsenal will take over our week once we get there (Bradford).”

But having just played three games in eight days, going up and down the country in the process, Howe expressed his desire to keep his players fit and free from fatigue, which could mean we see more rotation on Wednesday night.

“We can’t look at it as a starting XI, this season if you look at our schedule it is relentless, every week up until Christmas. So it will be the squad that will carry us to success, not 11 guys.”

“It is the same for everybody. Even if you come on for half an hour, you need to make a great one to give yourself the best chance of playing in the next game.”

“I will be very much pushing that to all the players. If you do get an opportunity, you have to grab it.”

“I think at Bournemouth certain players did, others were not as strong, overall the squad will benefit from that attitude.”

Who could get rare start?

So with Howe hinting that he’ll opt for a strong starting XI against Bradford, just who will he call upon to kick off our title defence?

Anthony Gordon has only played against Barcelona in the last few weeks, and of course scored that late consolation goal, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Howe play him in attack now he’s back from a domestic ban.

But if he plays once again at striker is a different question. Will Osula needs minutes and will only improve by finding his scoring boots against sides like Bradford in these high-stakes games, so we can wd

Aaron Ramsdale has yet to make a competitive appearance so far this season, having only played against Espanyol during pre-season. The loanee looked good that game, and Nick Pope’s four clean sheets in five league games could warrant him a game off.

The closing stages of Sunday’s game saw Jamaal Lascelles feature, much to Howe’s personal delight after everything he has gone through injury-wise. Wednesday night is the perfect opportunity for him to show that he is a dependable option for Howe moving forward, and Lascelles, alongside Emil Krafth, is a tidy combination in defence for games like this.

Sandro Tonali, as excellent as he has been this season, may needs some rest. And with neither Joelinton nor Bruno Guimaraes playing at the Vitality Stadium, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see one or both of the Brazilian step in for the Italian in the heart of the midfield.