Southampton could have an in-house solution to their Ross Stewart problem

Could Ross Stewart be returning to the Southampton ranks, just a month or so on from failing to agree a fresh contract?

Tonda Eckert hasn't ruled out this wild possibility, and the Scotsman could fancy jumping back into an environment he knows well, if there isn't a whole host of clubs interested in his free agent services.

At the same time as him being an instant good fit for the camp, the worry will be that the Saints are going down the easy path, instead of looking elsewhere.

Moreover, while he might have scored 11 goals last campaign in total, he is extremely injury-prone, with a slight relief, maybe, that he was off the books for good, so he doesn't swamp the injury team at St. Mary's with more requests.

Instead of bringing him back and retreading old steps, the Saints should look towards this exciting in-house replacement for some fresh blood up top.

Southampton's possible in-house solution

With Southampton about to come up short in the hunt for Will Lankshear, too, as he finalises a mega money to Middlesbrough from Tottenham Hotspur, Nicholas Oyekunle will feel his time to shine as a surprise in-house fix is in the here and now.

The 19-year-old sensation has been a goal machine for quite some time in the U21 ranks, with ten goals powered home with ease from 16 Premier League 2 games, following on from a potent track record for the U18s where he bagged a deadly 38 goals from 55 outings.

Oyekunle is hard to avoid and dismiss, and he could prove to be a striker option next season that doesn't have to dent the bank, as he's homegrown.

He has also scored this pre-season, as he continues to bang on Eckert's door, with a diving header expertly put away by the number 48.

The Championship visitors comfortably beat their National League hosts, and near neighbours from Hampshire, in Eastleigh 3-1 due to Oyekunle's heroics.

Noted as being an "energetic presence" throughout by Southampton-focused writer Christian Lovegrove, he could bring something different to the senior ranks next season, instead of re-signing the more conventional Stewart.

In the past, too, the South Coast giants have benefited tremendously from using some of their own...

They've come up trumps with youthful attackers before

Imagine, in one instance, if the Saints weren't brave enough to unleash Gareth Bale into the first-team ranks when they did.

It was a masterstroke of a call to unleash him into the senior picture in the late noughties, with the Welshman, who had worked his way up the youth ranks, collecting five goals and 12 assists in the men's team, before being sold to Tottenham Hotspur.

Both Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have also made the step-up look seamless from years gone by, with 20 senior goals between them, after starting out as wide-eyed starlets.

Coincidentally, they would both move to North London, as well, but to Spurs' arch rivals, Arsenal.

If a manager hadn't gambled on them coming good, they might never have gone on to be rip-roaring successes in the men's game, and with Oyekunle now 19 years of age, and well-versed in Premier League 2 action, his senior moment in the spotlight could arrive next season, if the German is daring enough.

To go all out for promotion, a move for an eye-catching signing in the attacking positions will likely still occur.

But, as another option to fall back on up top, Eckert and Co. might be better placed to put their trust in Oyekunle, with an eye on the future the more sensible approach here, arguably, rather than being let down by the Scotsman coming back, who is now 30.

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