Tonda Eckert has revealed that he has a big injury issue ahead of the trip to Carrow Road to take on Norwich City tomorrow, it is one Saints fans will not want to hear, but it is also one that Saints can cover.
At his pre match press conference Tonda Eckert has revealed that Tom Fellows is a doubt for the trip to Norwich after suffering a slight groin injury, when asked about the injury situation ahead of the match The Daily Echo has reported that he said:
"Mads [Roerslev] still needs a bit longer, Elias [Jelert] needs a bit longer, Shea [Charles] as well. Ross [Stewart] is still out. Damion [Downs] now had his first training sessions, and we'll try everything to get Tom Fellows ready for tomorrow."
When queried about Fellows condition his response was:
"A little struggle with the groin, so the medical department is on him, and we'll try to make everything possible. That's a shame because he's been playing well"
"He has been great in the last games. I think it's never easy when you move away from your home club for the first time. Sometimes you need a couple of weeks just to get used to a new environment, to new people around you, a new housing situation."
"I really think that he gets the ground running, and it's a pleasure to have him with us."
This will be a blow for Southampton supporters, Fellows has been a key player in recent weeks and his ability to take on the opposition using both skill and pace has seen him produce some great runs and turn defence into attack.
It will be a big blow to see him miss this game and I think that he will miss it, I would think that Tonda Eckert will be more concerned about keeping him fit for the game against Coventry and the busy Xmas New Year picture.
If he had to miss a game then probably this is the one to sit out, Norwich are in terms of League position the weakest team we will face in the next 6 weeks until we travel to Portsmouth.
That being the case, even if he passes muster, I would think that Eckert will leave him on the bench, to be used only in an emergency.
The manager has plenty of options to replace him, the obvious one being Ryan Fraser who deputised when Fellows came off against his old club West Brom, the Wee man is no slouch and has played as a wing back before and although he is primarily left footed, he can cut inside and use his left to great effect, indeed he featured early season as the right wing back to great effect in the draw at Ipswich Town.
If Tonda doesn't think Fraser is the man then he could emply Jay Robinson there who will be chomping at the bit or even Kuryu Matsuki who after coming on at Norwich in the EFL cup cut inside from the right and scored a screamer.
This all being the case there are few who would disagree with the manager if he was to err on the side of caution with Tom Fellows for this one, we would rather him be fit to face Coventry City than miss out by playing and aggravating this at the moment slight injury.