Eckert "happy" after victory over Oxford

Cyle Larin’s fourth goal in red and white got Saints off to the perfect start, before Shea Charles slammed home a long range strike that will be a goal of the season contender.

Enough to hold off the U’s, who themselves were four unbeaten heading into the encounter, Eckert reflected on the perfect send off heading into the international break.

“It's never easy to win a game of football, especially against a team that has made it very difficult against many teams, especially away from home.

“So we knew that we needed a goal to open up the game, and we were prepared to start strong, but also be patient in case the goal doesn't come. It worked better for us that we managed to open up the game quite early. And I think that we had some good spells in possession, overall very happy.

“We prepared this before the game that once we get behind the line that we just need to go all the way with the striker, so then to put the ball across or find someone towards the penalty spot to make them drop. And Cyle, he’s not a striker that you need to tell that because he goes on instinct and great goal.

On Charles’s wonder strike, he added: “It's a good one. I've seen quite a few strikes so far, so it's not the first goal from distance, but yeah, credit to him. I think he's played a very good 90 minutes today.

“It's going to be some big games coming up for him, for the national team now, so I think he made that very clear where he wants to head this season.

There’s a couple of boys obviously that have some big games coming up for their countries now, probably one of the biggest games of their career so far, so I think they've managed to get in form to prepare themselves for those moments. The other ones we will have a couple of days rest”