There was some talk that the recent signing of Lewis Dobbin was about providing an alternative to Finn Azaz in the centre of midfield, a little like Ross Stewart & Cyle Larin were alternated game by game, but that is not the case say's Tonda.

Tonda Eckert has been speaking to the The Daily Echo about new signing Lewis Dobbin.

Talk amongst Saints supporters has been about the role Dobbin will play in the team, some point to the fact that for Preston last season, the on loan from Aston Villa man played as what is these days described as the number 10 role, a very similar position that Finn Azaz played for the team last season.

But Tonda Eckert has said that the arrival of Dobbin is not solely to provide an alternative or competition to Finn Azaz, but also to offer options in other positions as Dobbin is also able to play as a all out striker or out wide.

"If you look at Finn and what he's done for us in the last season, he doesn't need any direct competition," Eckert told the Daily Echo.

"What Lewis gives us is just flexibility in the front line. I think that he likes to be close to the goal, but he can also come in off the side.

"He has had a big amount of goal contributions, and if we do want to get promoted, that's definitely something we need in the top line.

"He can give that through the middle, he can give that over the left and over the right, so I think it gives us some flexibility going into the final third.

"But Finn has been top, not just in terms of what he gives to the team on the ball, but the dedication and the way he puts himself on the line.

"When we had to defend also later on in the games, I think he was excellent. I wouldn't connect Lewis and Finn too much, as they can play together.

"They can also both play 90 minutes, but in a 46-game Championship, plus two cup competitions, the more quality we have, the better.

"We need that in those positions, and I'm very happy to have Lewis in the building, and I'm sure that he will be contributing to lots of goals."

So the suggestion here is that Dobbin's way of playing as a number 10 is different to Azaz's so they offer contrast rather than competition, that although they can play in the same position, where Azaz offers a deeper more passing role with the ability to arrive in the box late, Dobbin is more about running at the opposition with the ball.

But equally Azaz could be the man providing the ammunition for Dobbin who can play as a central striker or essentially a winger, they could play in the same team and in home games where we dominate sides, but find it difficult to break them down as they park the bus this could add extra firepower.

Finn Azaz started 37 games in the regular season, plus another 6 games off the bench, he only missed two games, in truth he made the side tick, when he played well so did Saints but another stat to look at was how many times he came off late on in a game.

He would complete 90 minutes just 15 times, that would equate to around just under half the games he started, that is telling us that we do need another option in this position and not just off the bench, but someone like Dobbin who could potentially start in another position, but move into the centre late on.

All in all this is a good position to be in as a manager, a year ago I said the depth of our squad was good enough to get us promotion and I feel it would have been had the depth of our Spying department been good enough to hide behind tree's a bit better.

For the coming season it is still too early to tell as we don't know who will depart before the end of the transfer window, but more importantly we don't know who will replace them, but at the moment the signing of Dobbin one of the best players in the Championship last season is a good first step forward.

All Photos Via Reuters