Southampton will be hoping to continue their recent momentum when they host Norwich City at St Mary’s in the Championship on Wednesday night.
It looked as though Southampton’s promotion hopes were over after a seven-game winless run over the festive period that saw pressure pile on head coach Tonda Eckert, but an excellent run of form in recent weeks has reignited their season.
The Saints extended their unbeaten run to 10 league games with a 2-1 victory over leaders Coventry City at the CBS Arena on Saturday, with goals from Flynn Downes and Kuryu Matsuki sealing all three points, despite Victor Torp’s late penalty setting up a nervy finish.
Southampton currently sit seventh in the Championship table, just three points behind sixth-placed Wrexham, although that gap could increase to six by the time they face Norwich, depending on how the Red Dragons fare in their trip to Watford on Tuesday night.
It will be no easy task for the Saints against a Canaries side who themselves have been revitalised since the arrival of Philippe Clement in November, and while they are down in 12th place, they may feel they still have an outside chance of reaching the play-offs after a run of 10 wins in their last 13 league games.
However, Southampton’s chances of securing a positive result in midweek may have been given a huge boost after Eckert provided an update on the fitness of winger Leo Scienza and striker Ross Stewart.
Tonda Eckert delivers encouraging Southampton injury update involving Leo Scienza and Ross Stewart
Southampton may have had a turbulent season, but Scienza has been one of their most consistent performers since his summer move from Heidenheim, with the 27-year-old scoring six goals and providing eight assists in 33 appearances so far.
It is fair to say that Stewart has taken a little longer to get going during an injury-hit spell at St Mary’s, but the Scot has played an important role in his side’s recent revival, netting four goals in his last 12 outings.
Scienza and Stewart both missed the win at Coventry on Saturday due to injury, but speaking ahead of the visit of Norwich, Eckert hinted that the pair could both play a part, while there was also good news on the fitness of other members of the Southampton squad.
“Leo [Scienza] and Ross [Stewart] have been on pitch today, which is very good, and then we’ll see tomorrow,” Eckert told the Southern Daily Echo.
“Mads [Roerslev] will take a little bit longer, so he still has his boot around his foot. I think that’s another week until that gets off.
“Jay [Robinson] has been with the team now for the first training session, so it’s very nice to have him back on the pitch. It was the second session for him today.
“Weli [Welington] is going to have his first session on Thursday with us, so slowly get him back in.”
Southampton will feel huge relief after Leo Scienza, Ross Stewart injury reveal
As Southampton continue to climb the table, the last thing they need is injuries to key players that could potentially slow their momentum at such a crucial point in the season.
Given Scienza’s importance to the team, losing him for any period of time would have been a devastating blow for the Saints, and Stewart’s injury record means there will naturally be concern about a possible long-term absence whenever he is sidelined.
However, Eckert’s update suggests that the duo could be available for the game against Norwich on Wednesday night, and even if they are not fit in time to face the Canaries, it does not sound as though their injuries are anything for Southampton fans to worry about.
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