Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has backed midfielder after his performance against QPR

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has backed Finn Azaz after his performance against QPR on Tuesday night.

Southampton thumped QPR 5-0 in the Championship on Tuesday night. Midfielder Finn Azaz scored and assisted during the win, bouncing back after a slight dip in form which had been widely criticised by Saints fans.

The 25-year-old Azaz has now featured 30 times in the Championship this season, scoring nine and assisting six with Southampton now sitting in 7th place of the Championship table, but four points behind Wrexham in 6th.

What Tonda Eckert said about Finn Azaz after Southampton 5-0 QPR

Speaking after that heavy win against QPR, Eckert was asked for his verdict on Azaz who scored the opening goal of the night, later assisting Leo Scienza for what was Southampton’s fourth goal on the night.

Eckert told The Daily Echo: “First of all, I was very happy that he went to the fans after the game. Not just for him, but he does so much and he loves this football club so much. I think he’s not the one who puts himself in the front row.

“He’s very humble, as well as the way he comes to the training ground and behaves. I think he’s in the middle of a process to take more and more responsibility. I think that’s the typical age for a player. I think he’s 25 years old now.

“If I’m a number nine, I would love to have him behind me. But something not seen as much is the way he applies himself when we don’t have the ball. If you see the amount of distance that he covers, it’s more and more. He applies himself, being able to play 90 minutes again and again and again.

“I think it shows that he is progressing, so I think he’s a top character, a top player to have in the team, and I think there’s lots more to come from him.”

How Southampton’s Finn Azaz compares to other Championship midfielders

Southampton signed Azaz from Middlesbrough last summer. He’s so far proved to be a big player for the Saints despite some poor performances dotted in there along the way, and he’s also proving to be one of the best midfielders in the Championship for goals and assists.

Only Jack Clarke and Morgan Whittaker have more goals than Azaz from midfielder this season. Even then they’re both more advanced midfielders than Azaz, arguably even strikers themselves, which highlights just how prolific Azaz is for the position he plays in.

Azaz also has the joint-fourth most assists in the Championship so far this season too. He averages a goal or an assist every 145 minutes of Championship football this season too.

For Eckert, keeping Azaz confident and prolific is going to be crucial as the Saints look to mount what feels like an unlikely push for the top six given their poor start to the season, which resulted in Southampton sacking Will Still as manager in November.

Now unbeaten in seven in the league, winning five of those, Southampton return to action away at relegated Sheffield Wednesday this weekend, before an FA Cup clash away at Fulham and then trips to West Brom and Coventry City.

Southampton’s next home game isn’t until they host Norwich City on March 18th.