Eckert expects to make changes at Leicester
Tonda Eckert is expecting to make “a couple of changes” to his starting line-up when Southampton return to action at Leicester on Tuesday night (7.45pm GMT).
The head coach is pleased to have the vast majority of his first-team squad available for selection, and believes he has players ready to step in should he decide to freshen things up.
The hosts were deducted six points last week for breaching profit and sustainability rules, leaving them hovering above the relegation zone only courtesy of goal difference, but Eckert is not underestimating the talent in the Foxes’ ranks.
“Our quality at the moment is that we have a high availability. We have so much quality that at the moment they are not starting games, but they are ready to, and we might need some fresh legs on Tuesday,” Eckert said, speaking after Saturday’s 1-0 win over Watford.
"That's just because it's a short break, only two days [between games], and it's an away game. I would assume that we have a couple of changes in the starting eleven.
“Whatever it brings us, for us it’s important that we have a good recovery for two days now. Leicester is going to be a completely different game to the one we played today (against Watford), and we need to make sure that we take something home with us. I think they are among the teams with the biggest quality on the pitch.”
Eckert hopes to be able to call upon Flynn Downes despite being forced to withdraw him in the first half against Watford, as Saints’ midfield enforcer came off worse in a hard-but-fair challenge on the halfway line.
"It's actually quite a nice challenge from him, but, obviously, it's one that ends with contact. He got a little knock right underneath the knee,” Eckert explained.
"From what I've heard, it doesn't look too bad in the first place. Let's hope it's just a contact injury, but it's very painful. Then we'll assess for the next days. We'll see how he is for Tuesday, but I wouldn't rule him out."
Saturday’s victory gave Saints a third win in four matches, keeping clean sheets in all three of those.
When asked if his side have found a new way to win in recent weeks, with a greater focus on defensive solidity compared to his first few weeks in charge, Eckert said: “I think that’s fair to say. There might be different games coming up, so I think you need to look at every game very individually and see what the best chances there are to win a game of football.
“That might be different on Tuesday, let’s see, but for the moment I think it’s nice that we’ve found a certain solidity in the way we approach games and the way we defend. Sometimes one goal is enough to win a game of football.”
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