While Cyle Larin has scored two goals for Canada at the 2026 World Cup so far, Ross Stewart has been more of a background figure for Scotland at the famed tournament.
Stewart would've been looking forward to representing the Tartan Army in Boston, but at the moment, he has been restricted to just one slender minute of action, which came about as Steve Clarke's determined team lost 1-0 to Morocco.
There won't be a lot of Southampton fans feeling sorry for the four-time international, however, as he has ripped up his Saints contract this summer, after being offered an extended deal.
Undoubtedly, this change of circumstances to Southampton's forward line means Larin is the main starting marksman heading into next season.
It's not just Stewart who could be waving goodbye to the South Coast in the forward areas, though, with Cameron Archer reportedly being eyed up by a Championship club, despite his hot-and-cold form at St. Mary's as of late.
Archer on the move
Archer once cost Southampton an eye-watering £15m, with Russell Martin signing off on this statement deal in the summer transfer window of 2024, right after promotion to the Premier League had been sealed.
Safe to say, two seasons down now at St. Mary's, the one-time Aston Villa youngster has never lived up to his high price tag, and he could be handed a path back to familiar haunts in the Midlands with West Bromwich Albion shortly.
Indeed, it is being speculated on social media that James Morrison is very keen on landing the reserve Saints striker, with a summer move away from the South Coast noted as being "certain."
Losing both Stewart and Archer in quick succession is risky, as it does leave Southampton extremely light in the forward department.
However, it could be deemed the correct time still to cut their losses on the inconsistent number 19 when they can, if West Brom are as keen as they're being made out to be, as the former England U21 international has never sparked into life wearing Southampton red and white.
He will likely leave despite Stewart's exit
He will hope he stands more of a chance of resurrecting his EFL career with the Baggies, instead, with the Walsall-born attacker moving closer to home, if a switch can be agreed.
He did bag a red-hot 11 goals for Middlesbrough from only 23 games previously in the division, so West Brom will be banking on the fact they can uncover this potent threat once again.
Archer will be low on confidence, though, and could take some time to get back to those frightening levels, with only a weak 11 goals next to his name for the Saints, from 76 outings.
Archer's weak Southampton return:
Season | Games | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
25/26 | 36 | 6 | 4 |
24/25 | 40 | 5 | 0 |
With Southampton hellbent on winning promotion after the heartbreak of Spygate, as well, they can't just keep wishing Archer would become deadly in front of goal, instead of forgettable, and so cashing in is likely the correct call, here, even if that does mean they're temporarily depleted.
A new striker is surely high up the priority list as Southampton go shopping in the market, as the goal-shy 24-year-old tries to breathe life back into his playing days away from the South Coast.
Add us as a preferred source on Google