Ryan Manning’s suspension for the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City has created a difficult situation for Tonda Eckert.
Manning’s scintillating form since returning to the starting lineup due to Welington’s injury has deservedly kept the Brazilian on the bench.
However, with the semi-final just eleven days away, Welington will need more minutes if he is to be up to speed for the challenge of marking Antoine Semenyo.
Eckert is faced with a dilemma. Should he continue with Manning, whose quality in dead-ball situations is undeniable? Or, should the young German reintroduce Welington knowing that doing so could disrupt the rhythm of the team?
On Saturday against Derby, Manning was arguably the player of the match. He put the ball on a sixpence for Taylor Harwood-Bellis to emphatically put Southampton ahead and complete their comeback win.
The perfect opportunity to play Welington
Despite Blackburn’s decent run of form of late, Eckert may look at this as the perfect opportunity to bring Welington back into the side. It is a match that the south coast side will expect to win, and a game where Manning might not be missed as much as he might otherwise be.
Manning has been playing back-to-back games amid a hectic schedule, including an appearance for the Republic of Ireland in their luckless World Cup play-off game.
Manning, though, seems to thrive in game situations, and he celebrated the win over Arsenal more explosively than any other player in the team, despite knowing that he would miss the semi-final.
If the Saints boss continues with Manning in the starting eleven, he could risk overplaying the 29-year-old at a vital time in the Saints’ season.
Manning has an excellent back up in Welington
However, in Welington, Southampton have an excellent backup, and it could be argued that the Brazilian is a better full-back than Manning.
Certainly, Welington had excellent games against Sheffield United, Portsmouth, Stoke City, and Watford before coming off late in the Saints’ stunning comeback win at Leicester City.
The Saints’ Head Coach is an intelligent leader who seems to be making all the right calls at the moment. Welington is in dire need of minutes, and he will need to be up to speed for Southampton’s biggest match of the season so far. Eckert will be aware of the dilemma and anxious for the Brazilian to be involved soon.
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