Lewis Dobbin isn’t the only Southampton player enjoying a remarkable revival

Tonda Eckert did hint, in his pre-match press conference before the trip to Norwich City, that some changes to his starting Southampton XI would be on the horizon.

Indeed, he noted that Cyle Larin - who is the Saints' top scorer in the Championship this season with seven strikes - could have to drop out of the main team for the match at Carrow Road, so he can gain some well-needed rest.

Divin Mubama would have been his expected replacement, but the German decided to go with Lewis Dobbin, instead, in a move that would have flummoxed Saints fans when the team was initially announced.

Dobbin is yet to score since joining for a bumper £9m, and has looked somewhat out of his depth in a promotion-chasing team's ranks, away from being a bright spark for a relegation-threatened team, such as Preston North End.

Yet, despite some grumbles in the air about Dobbin starting, the expensive number 11 stood out as an inspired selection choice by Eckert, come the full-time whistle.

Dobbin's inspired performance

Of course, a dream scenario for Dobbin would have been that he finally broke his Saints duck at Carrow Road.

But, he can take a lot away from his inspired showing, against his ex-loan side, as he battled hard throughout his 82 minute stint on the pitch to ensure Eckert and Co. won their first away game of the campaign.

Indeed, Dobbin would win seven ground duels, and didn't look flustered one bit by putting in the dirty work required to grind out a 1-0 victory.

There's still a lot to be worked on, as he failed to register a single shot during the game as the lone marksman.

But, he will now suddenly be in the good book of supporters, who were ready to write him off, for how energetic and tireless he was leading the line for the South Coast side.

Eckert, himself, would praise Dobbin's performance after the match, stating that the £9m forward was "absolutely fantastic."

It will be very encouraging for Eckert that he managed to drop both Larin, and Leo Scienza - two huge components of his Saints machine - and that a win was still forthcoming, as he attempts to uses the full squad at his disposal to pick up results.

It's not just Dobbin who has enjoyed a remarkable revival in isolation, as this other written-off figure has suddenly become crucial.

He isn't the only remarkable turnaround

Saints fans would've wanted another centre-back signing to arrive through the door in the summer.

Southampton did manage to snap up Keven Schlotterbeck for a cheap £3m, and he has been rock-solid ever since joining, but the worry would've been that the large hole left behind by Taylor Harwood-Bellis leaving still hadn't been filled.

Thankfully, the loss of the 24-year-old defender to Aston Villa hasn't stung for too long, as it has actually coincided with Jack Stephens having his own Dobbin-style rebirth in the heart of defence.

At the start of the campaign, Stephens looked on serious borrowed time at St. Mary's.

Like Dobbin, he had started the season poorly, with an error-strewn performance on the opening day against Watford handing the Hornets a rare Championship win.

After that shocking display, a lot of Southampton supporters were ready to condemn the 32-year-old to the reserves forever, but he has turned around his fortunes rather remarkably across recent matches.

In the South Coast Derby, he was just the leader that Eckert and Co. needed to win such a brutal affair, with tackles and duels won aplenty, alongside the fact he was doing all the simple parts of his game right, when the pressure was ramped up.

Stephens' numbers (Pompey + Norwich):

Against Norwich, too, he was key in the winless away team picking up their first three points on the road, with a valiant nine ball recoveries registered.

This is the first time this season, as well, that back-to-back clean sheets have been amassed, and Stephens was at the heart of both backlines standing firm.

Eckert will be finding a way to give Dobbin more consistent minutes, that's for sure, as it has done the veteran defender the world of good to feel cherished again.

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