Predicted Southampton lineup as Southampton host West Bromwich Albion

Southampton welcome Ryan Mason's West Brom to St Mary's on Tuesday evening. Who will be in Tonda Eckert's starting eleven?
Southampton v Portsmouth - Sky Bet Championship
Southampton v Portsmouth - Sky Bet Championship | Robin Jones/GettyImages

Tonda Eckert could name his first unchanged side as he prepares to share his starting eleven to face West Bromwich Albion at home on Tuesday Evening.

Having no reason to expect the interim boss to deviate from the structure that has served him so well until now, Eckert will likely start again with a familiar 3-4-3 formation.

Ross Stewart, Elias Jelert, Mads Roerslev, Shea Charles, and Damion Downs are all still out injured. Sam Edozie may still not be quite ready for a return to the squad.

Veteran midfielder, Oriol Romeu made his second St Mary's debut on Saturday, receiving a tremendous welcome back from the home fans. Getting another 10 minutes on the clock won't be enough to see him in contention for a starting place on Tuesday night, but expect to see him from the bench again.

Southampton predicted lineup: (3-4-3)


Goalkeeper and Defenders

Taylor Harwood-Bellis
Southampton v Leicester City - Sky Bet Championship | Warren Little/GettyImages

Goalkeeper - Gavin Bazunu: Bazunu continues to grow in confidence and he pulled off some excellent saves against Birmingham City on Saturday. His distribution and calmness against the press is integral to the way that the Saints play out from the back under Eckert.

Centre-Back - Taylor Harwood-Bellis: Harwood-Bellis was a colossus against Birmingham City who put in cross after cross for the Saints back three to deal with. Harwood-Bellis ate them up like a hungry pac-man and sent the Blues home with nothing.

Centre-Back - Nathan Wood: Nathan Wood has played in every game under Eckert and will probably keep his place against West Brom.

Centre-Back - Jack Stephens: Played on the edge at the weekend and could have been shown a card after his tussle with City's Marvin Ducksch. Dealt with everything that came his way in a strong display of how to defend the six yard box.


Midfielders

Tom Fellows
Southampton v Leicester City - Sky Bet Championship | Warren Little/GettyImages

Right Midfield - Tom Fellows: Tom Fellows will continue in the hybrid wing-back role which he is making his own. Was forced too deep against Birmingham City. It would be better to see him running with the ball in more advanced areas.

Centre Midfield - Flynn Downes: Downes was formidable in the centre of the park on Saturday. His strong tackle contributed to Southampton scoring their third on the break against Birmingham at the weekend. Barring a re-occurence of his well-documented stomach problems, he will start.

Centre Midfield - Caspar Jander: Jander earned a rest for the last 10 minutes plus stoppage time on Saturday and was replaced by Oriol Romeu. The standing ovation for Romeu could just have easily been for the player being replaced as Jander had another brilliant defensive game.

Left Midfield - Ryan Manning: Manning is the only player whose position could be under threat. Three games in a week was clearly too much by the time the Millwall game came around and Eckert may opt to bring in Welington instead.


Leo Scienza
Queens Park Rangers v Southampton - Sky Bet Championship | Jasper Wax/GettyImages

Forwards

Left Forward - Léo Scienza: Scienza returned from illness to have a huge influence on Saturday's result. After teeing up Finn Azaz for the opener, his mazy run and parried low shot led to Adam Armstrong's second goal. Rested for the last half an hour, Léo's name is probably already on Tonda's teamsheet for Tuesday night.

Centre Forward - Adam Armstrong: Southampton's two-goal hero from Saturday came off the field early after getting a knock early in the second half. Given a clean bill of health by Eckert in Monday's press conference, Armstrong will relish the opportunity to score again against the club he went to on loan last season.

Right Forward - Finn Azaz: Six goals in five matches under the new Head Coach will surely be enough to ensure that the Republic of Ireland international keeps his place in Eckert's starting eleven. Azaz was electric on the counter attack on Saturday but gave the ball away a little too often. His defensive work in support of Tom Fellows was a little lacking at times.

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