The Southampton star who could really hurt Wrexham and it’s not Cyle Larin

Southampton have one final Championship game on their agenda for September before the longer-than-usual international break begins.

After Saturday's showdown with Wrexham is over, Tonda Eckert and Co. have a huge gap in the fixture list, as they next play in the second tier on the 11th of October, and it's a humdinger, as Portsmouth come to St. Mary's for the latest instalment of the South Coast Derby.

Southampton fans will be keeping tabs on their beloved players over the break, as Kuryu Matsuki potentially wins his first senior Japan cap, but there is an excitement already lingering for that fierce showdown with Pompey on home soil.

Before that hotly contested match, however, the South Coast giants have to travel to Wrexham, who have added a bit of spice to the game at the Racecourse Stadium via their social media posts, with Spygate comically mentioned.

This could very much backfire, as Phil Parkinson's men have already been on the receiving end of a severe beating from Eckert's rampant side last season, with Cyle Larin scoring on that occasion.

Wrexham must stop Larin

Larin was still relatively new to his South Coast surroundings when he faced the Red Dragons in February.

He had scored three times across his first nine Championship appearances when making the trip to Wales, with starts up top rather infrequent.

He was chosen as Eckert's main leading man for this Tuesday night affair, and it was the right call, as the 31-year-old poacher would bag the Saints' decisive third strike of the night to take the game away from a poor Wrexham side.

It was a wonderful strike from the Brampton Bagsman as well as he burst forward with pace to burn, before slotting an effort confidently past Arthur Okonkwo.

This would begin a purple patch of form for the deadly number nine, with four goals put away with the same confidence that beat Okonkwo across his final six regular Championship outings that season.

He has only gotten better since this fine night out in Wales, with a ridiculous seven goals from seven second tier encounters this campaign.

Larin's Championship form since Wrexham away:

Safe to say, if Wrexham fail to close Larin down on Saturday, he will likely punish the Red Dragons, who have just shipped six goals to West Ham United.

That horror show result at the London Stadium will be weighing heavy on proceedings from the home team's perspective, with the South Coast visitors very similar to the Hammers, in boasting so much exciting and direct attacking quality.

They just couldn't deal with Jarrod Bowen whatsoever, alongside the likes of Taty Castellanos up top, with another Saints star capable of really hurting Wrexham, like the 22-time England international did.

This other Saints star could seriously hurt them

Parkinson will be having considerable headaches working out how to thwart Eckert's attacking arsenal.

There's Matsuki to look out for, alongside a superb Finn Azaz who is picking up assists for fun.

There is also the difficult task on their hands of silencing Leo Scienza, who is - arguably - Southampton's own version of Bowen.

On his day, he twists and turn Championship defences without even blinking down the left flank, with the recent 3-1 success over Swansea City seeing him complete three successful mazey dribbles forward.

He would score during that win over Wrexham's Welsh neighbours, too, with four goal contributions next to his name this season from seven Championship outings.

Scienza will be keen to add to that account just before the extended international break intervenes, and he'll believe he can, as Bowen ran the shellshocked away team ragged at the London Stadium with a goal and an assist.

If they afford the Brazilian as much time and space as they gifted to the Hammers captain, it could be another very awkward match to stomach for Parkinson and Co.

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