Southampton might not need Caspar Jander to rush back after this superb performance

Tonda Eckert pushed Kuryu Matsuki further back into a central midfield role in his Southampton starting XI for their EFL Cup tie against Colchester United.

Shea Charles wasn't present, but he was named on the substitutes bench, as he edges closer to a £30m switch to Fulham, meaning the versatile 23-year-old slotted into the team centrally, as opposed to a more familiar wide role.

This decision to play the Japanese gem in the middle of the park was also done due to Caspar Jander being out with an injury, with the German struggling for pre-season minutes, as a result of his absences in the treatment room.

Eckert spoke positively about Jander potentially returning for the Championship opener against Watford, though, with the Münster-born ace no doubt ready to come into his own even more this coming season, as Charles departs.

Eckert's positive Jander news

Jander wandered into the English gem last summer as a relatively unknown, but exciting gem for Southampton fans to sink their teeth into, costing around the £10.4m mark to obtain from FC Nürnberg.

He instantly fit into to his new surroundings, with the classy German actually finishing his first full second tier season with an 89% pass accuracy averaged per league clash. Charles, who is about to leave for £30m, boasted a lesser 85% pass accuracy average, in contrast.

Jander has caught the eye so much, since swapping Germany for St. Mary's, that he has even been spoken about highly by Jurgen Klopp, who wouldn't be against introducing the 23-year-old into his Die Mannschaft ranks shortly.

He could be back for the opening Championship clash against Watford, too, which is positive news, as Matsuki didn't look entirely comfortable on the road at the U's in his unusual position on the pitch.

Eckert said, when quizzed on the highly-rated midfielder's possible return: "He had his first pitch sessions now last week. So it's also going to be a gradual process. Let's see where we are for Watford, but he's on a good way.”

Based on these comments, while he has back out on the grass training, the Watford game might just bypass him.

Rushing Jander back for the sake of it could be detrimental long-term, but he doesn't need to be returned to the first team frame swiftly, when you also realise Eckert has this excellent midfielder at his disposal, who shone during the latter stages of the Colchester Cup victory.

He might not need to be rushed back however

Another player set to benefit from Charles' exit is Cameron Bragg who, like Jander, experienced a breakout season in the Saints ranks last campaign from the middle of the park.

The 2024/25 season might've seen Bragg struggle out on loan at Crawley Town in League One, but the 2025/26 season saw him come into his own in the senior ranks at his boyhood club, with a stunning 92% pass accuracy averaged from his limited 17 Championship outings.

He was faultless on the ball again versus Colchester, with Eckert surely tempted to throw him in from the start at Vicarage Road, next to the experienced Flynn Downes, to avoid having to shoehorn Matsuki into his lineup again.

Indeed, he didn't misplace a single pass, with 30 out of 30 passes completed effortlessly.

Moreover, he has the vigour you need in the demanding second tier to be a success, despite cutting a wide-eyed appearance, with four duels also won bravely.

Eckert will happily let Jander get back up to full fitness behind the scenes, rather than sending him back into the first team picture still nursing an injury, knowing he has Bragg, who should only get better and more mature with increased minutes, up his sleeve.

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