Cameron Archer has bolstered his second-choice forward's candidature with Damion Downs as the expected mainstay for Will Still up front.
Consistency and stats are always appreciated in club football, still, nobody can deny the impact of recency bias. The latter was on full display when Ross Stewart got himself a crucial place on the Arsenal game's scoresheet which is still saving his place in the first team, just because he bagged Southampton's final competitive goal in months.
Naturally, the Scot could have even been hailed as the automatic number nine had Downs not stepped foot inside St. Mary's. Clearly, Stewart can do an okayish job there but now, his last goal-factor has jumped from his court and gone to arguably his only Saints competitor.
Archer can become fan favourite again with a supporting role
Easy-peasy hint, it's Cameron Archer who has dragged himself back to Southampton fans' regular matchday chatter for the first time in 2025. Still, it's not hard to imagine him displacing Stewart to the bottom of the attacking choice list, as Armstrong and Ben Brereton Diaz will remain certain to depart unless the summer window's timer reads stop.
Further, Archer has rang performance alarms for Stewart with an enthusiastic Will Still claim.
As quoted by the Daily Echo, Archer said: "The gaffer spoke to me before pre-season started. I know he has that confidence in me as well. I've got to work hard, work with him, get my head down, and it will all come together."
Honestly, the £15m ex-Aston Villa man is not spared by criticisms but Damion Downs might be overwhelmed with a never-ending ask for goals. So, if Archer can level up his scoring hunger, then Downs can also integrate well to Still's liking which Southampton will always want to see.