MANAGER Eddie Howe is expected to make wholesale changes for Cherries’ League Cup clash with Northampton tonight and wants his players to seize their chance.

Howe named a different starting line-up for the first round win at Exeter just three days after Cherries had opened their Championship campaign with a resounding 4-0 victory at Huddersfield.

The visit of the League Two Cobblers comes on the back of Saturday’s disappointing reverse at Blackburn, which followed a home defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest. Howe told the Daily Echo: “I am not sure we will be able to make 11 changes this time due to a couple of injuries but we will certainly be making changes.

“I want to give the players who haven’t played an opportunity to put their hat in the ring because after certain aspects of Saturday’s play it will be interesting to see how they respond.

“We want to win and need a win after two defeats, although one was very unjust. It would be good to put on a show in front of our own supporters and try to get back to winning ways.”

Cherries, whose best run in the League Cup came in 1961-62 and 1963-64 when they made the fourth round, have not reached the third round since 2004-05.

Northampton have drawn twice and lost once in League Two since springing one of the shocks of the first round by winning 3-2 against Wolves at Molineux.

Cherries defender Simon Francis, who has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, again looks set to sit out.