The Championship fixtures for the new season have now been released.
Southampton will kick their brand-new campaign off with a visit to Watford, with the game at Vicarage Road televised on Sky Sports.
After that, it's two back-to-back home contests to see out August against Stoke City and Millwall, with Will Smallbone - who is set to be released by his boyhood club - coincidentally featuring for both those sides, alongside the South Coast outfit.
Smallbone leaving the building has opened up some space in the midfield department for some new recruits, with Shea Charles also looking to be on the move this summer in the middle of the park, as Leeds United circle.
It looks as if Southampton have been aware of their midfield situation for some time, as they are reportedly closing in on a free transfer move for Dan Neil to join Tonda Eckert's ranks.
Southampton in the driver's seat for Neil
Keith Downie, who focuses on the likes of Sunderland, has reported that the Saints are in advanced talks with Neil, who resided in the Championship briefly last season with Ipswich Town out on loan.
Now, Neil is available for nothing, having walked away from the Europa League-bound Black Cats, and he is high on Eckert's wish list of summer signings.
He has attracted interest from both Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United, who have just been relegated from the Premier League. Still, the 24-year-old is close to signing for Southampton over the former top-flight duo.
This is a real statement of intent from the Saints, as they go about trying to win promotion next season, despite their four-point deduction, with Neil well-versed in what it takes to be a successful promotion winner from the challenging level.
He could fire them into promotion contention
Neil has unfortunately been a victim of Sunderland's overwhelming success story in the Premier League, as Regis Le Bris' underdogs hit seventh position on their first campaign back in the big time.
While the top-flight was a bridge too far for him, he loves playing in the gruelling environment of the Championship, with five goal contributions collected during the 2024/25 season helping Le Bris and Co. to finally return to the promised land.
Classy on the ball, while also offering a much-needed bite to keep up with the relentless pace of the second tier, he is an ideal replacement for Charles, all while costing zilch.
Alongside filling notable gaps in Eckert's squad, Neil's three promotions under this belt for both Sunderland and Ipswich stick out when looking at his loaded CV.
He would only be about for eight Championship starts last season for Ipswich, but he still played his part, with a 90-minute showing against the Saints at the close of April standing out, with two key passes amassed, and six tackles and duels won, as the Suffolk giants won an invaluable point to secure automatic promotion on the final day.
Noted as possessing an "unbelievable engine" by ex-Stadium of Light teammate Alan Browne, while one-time Black Cats sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has also noted that he "always stood out during difficult times", he could be a perfect signing for a team battered and bruised by their Premier League near-miss last season, due to Spygate.
He will be ready to give his all if a deal is secured shortly, with next season continuing to be looked at with a lot of optimism, regardless of all the off-field drama.
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