Southampton will have to make do without Keven Schlotterbeck in the heart of their defence when Championship action resumes after the international break.
The German powerhouse is set for a six-week stay in the treatment room, owing to a dislocated shoulder injury he picked up against Preston North End.
Both Zach Abbott and Nathan Wood will be vying for his vacant spot in the team while he's out of action, with the Nottingham Forest loanee having to fill in for Schlotterbeck away at Deepdale.
Wood will fancy his chances of starting against Derby County, though, which is the first Championship match after the break, as he has always found himself on the winning side of Saints' clashes when starting this season at St. Mary's.
In an alternate reality, Southampton could have this second-tier colossus at their fingertips, too, with Schlotterbeck sidelined, as he continues to shine for an promotion rival near the top of the table.
Saints once has this colossus on their books
Before he became a defensive "monster" on the roster of Birmingham City, as podcaster Ryan Dilks has labelled him in the past, Christoph Klarer was briefly on the books of Tonda Eckert and Co. as a future talent.
He would join the South Coast club's ranks as a youngster in 2016, having left his native Austria behind for a chance in England.
Unfortunately, the now 26-year-old would never go on to make a name for himself at St. Mary's, with zero senior appearances coming his way, despite playing 42 times in total for the U23s.
Southampton must wonder what could have been with Klarer if they'd integrated himself into the first-team fold successfully, as the imposing 6-foot-3 giant is now considered to be one of the most feared defenders in the entire second-tier with Chris Davies' promotion-chasing Blues.
Don’t mess with Captain Christoph. ⛔️ pic.twitter.com/qNL1HXGyF5
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) November 23, 2025
Klarer has been a key part of Birmingham's success in recent years, having originally left the Saints behind for Fortuna Dusseldorf, with promotion up to the Championship being won with ease during his first season in Birmingham blue.
He would pick up a mammoth 18 clean sheets, and help himself to one goal and three assists as a full package defender for Davies' men.
He has only gotten better since making the step-up to the daunting Championship, with the imperious Blues captain winning 105 aerial duels so far this season, which is the most won by a single player in the entire division.
Klarer's partnership alongside Phil Neumann has even been heralded as "the best" in the league by outspoken EFL pundit Tom Garratt.
Eckert did have his own Klarer-style beast in his backline in Schlotterbeck, before tragedy struck at Deepdale, with many not even aware that the Austrian's humble beginnings in England came on the South Coast.
The always-calm manager occupying the St. Mary's hot-seat won't be too disheartened with his depleted options at the back, though, even with Klarer sticking out as a glaring missed opportunity.
Southampton should be able to deal with the injury
Eckert will make do with what he was for the time being.
After all, he managed to mastermind the enthralling 3-2 win at West Ham United last month with no Cyle Larin leading the line, so he knows what to do when injuries ravage his personnel.
Moreover, Abbott has featured in the Europa League before with his parent employers, so he should be able to step up temporarily, while Schlotterbeck recovers.
Wood is also no schmuck, with plenty of Championship experience under his belt, playing for Middlesbrough, Swansea City, and - of course - Eckert's men.
It's not ideal, especially when you look across to St. Andrew's and see the shiny Klarer excelling, who never got a chance to express himself in the men's team at Southampton.
But, there's no point being consumed by what could have been, as Eckert tries to pick up his first Championship victory this month when the action resumes on the 21st, regardless of who he is available for selection.
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