Southampton haven't had too much wretched luck with injuries so far this season.
Thankfully, the likes of Cyle Larin and Finn Azaz have been injury-free so far this campaign, with the pair combining for ten Championship goals between them being fired into the back of the net, alongside the silky Irishman picking up four assists.
Without this blistering duo, Southampton wouldn't be tearing apart teams for fun in their bid to rise the league.
The worry is that Azaz is a bit injury-prone, and if Larin were to pick up an untimely knock, all Tonda Eckert has at his disposal is the exciting, if slightly inconsistent, Divin Mubama as the clinical Canadian's back-up option.
The South Coast giants have been better equipped across recent matches to deal with Caspar Jander still being sidelined, with Flynn Downes and James Ward-Prowse forming another fantastic duo in the German's ranks in the holding midfield spaces.
Downes and Ward-Prowse's partnership
Jander is yet to feature in the Championship this season as we enter into mid-September.
Southampton must be glad they picked up James Ward-Prowse now, as he has slotted back into the Saints starting XI effortlessly, to make the 23-year-old's absence far less noticeable.
It just feels like the legendary 31-year-old has never been away for how seamless his reintroduction has been, with a 92% pass accuracy average sticking out from his three second tier starts back on South Coast soil, as he dictates play from the middle of the park with his typical classy displays.
Alongside Downes, who is the more aggressive of the two, it has been even been noted in a previous article of mine that a new Ward-Prowse and Oriel Romeu partnership - which was a cornerstone of the Saints during their Premier League heyday - is forming.
Eckert and Co. are yet to taste defeat in the Championship with this blossoming combination in the heart of the midfield, with the big 4-1 win secured over Bristol City seeing Ward-Prowse misplace just five of his 66 passes.
Additionally, his combative teammate - who had to go off at half-time due to an injury precaution - would still win a lively three tackles and duels from his 45 minute outing.
Eckert has calmed nerves that he could be out for a while, with Downes expected to feature against Wrexham on Saturday, despite being hooked off early on.
With this partnership becoming so trustworthy so quickly, will a space open back up for a returning Jander, who should be back after the international break?
Does a returning Jander re-enter?
Last season, Eckert regularly utilised Shea Charles as an off the bench presence, with 22 of his 33 Championship appearances coming when he was thrown into matches.
It worked for the Northern Irishman, as he became a £30m buy for Fulham, with Jander perhaps having to do with the same minutes from off the bench.
He was excellent last season, there's no taking away from that, with an 89% pass accuracy average matched by a valiant 5.6 duels won per second tier contest.
But to break apart the Downes and Ward-Prowse alliance feels unnecessary, as Southampton continue to rise up the standings with this twosome as their new-look midfield heartbeat.
He shouldn't be disheartened by his role changing if it does, as Charles still managed to collect three goals and two assists hopping off the bench regularly in Championship action, leading to a Premier League switch materialising.
Having Jander back at his disposal will be a major plus for Eckert, as Ward-Prowse has played a lot of football for a star in the veteran years of his career who wasn't used all that regularly by West Ham United, so adding an injection of energy via the German will be useful.
The number eight being back from injury is a huge positive, even if it brings about a slight selection headache, as Southampton's overall squad continues to stick out as one of the very best in the entire division.
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