News summary
Southampton close their pre-season in Germany this afternoon. Saints visit 3. Liga side SC Preußen Münster at the LVM-Preußenstadion, with a 2pm kick-off.
Both Mads Roerslev and Shea Charles have been promised minutes by the Head Coach and could start. Damion Downs has picked up a minor knock, and Cyle Larin is yet to join up with the squad. As a result, Tonda Eckert has a decision to make up front between Cameron Archer, Ben Brereton-Diaz and Nicholas Oyekunle.
Fans can stream the match on Saints Play for five pounds. This is the last warm-up before Saints travel to League Two Colchester in the Carabao Cup, so Eckert will want a decent display after Wednesday's lacklustre defeat at Paderborn.
The wait on the FA rumbles into the weekend. Former referees chief Keith Hackett expects Eckert to pick up a six-game ban, which would keep him out of the dugout for the opening month.
Nothing has been confirmed by the governing body yet. Southampton continue to back their head coach while the sanction is decided.
Transfer news
The Shea Charles standoff carries into the weekend. Leeds have been told their latest bid falls short, with Southampton holding near £30m after offers of around £20m and £23m were turned down.
Crystal Palace and Fulham keep watching. The midfielder has made it plain he fancies a Premier League move.
Leo Scienza has spoken up about his own future. The Brazilian told the Daily Echo he feels "very comfortable" on the south coast, though his aim is the Premier League.
Southampton are in no mood to sell cheap and value him around £35m. Scienza weighed in with seven goals and ten assists in the Championship last season at a 7.36 rating, per his FotMob profile.
Saints Marching read his words as a message every interested club will hear. For now, the club can point to a long contract and a firm price.
Saints Marching opinion
The Eckert verdict still sits above everything else. On a matchday, with the season two weeks off, the head coach waits to learn how long he will spend out of the dugout.
Hackett's six-game guess would mean no touchline for the opening month, and Southampton already start on minus four points. A judgement-week preview laid out how little precedent there is to lean on.
There is a case for leniency. The club plainly believes it. Eckert lifted a side sitting 21st under Will Still up to fourth by the spring, which is why Dragan Solak has shown no urge to move him on.
The hope is a lighter or suspended punishment that lets Eckert lead from the touchline at Watford. Whatever lands, a good win in Münster today may go some way to keeping the mood settled while the club waits.
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