Flynn Downes didn't mince his words when talking about Southampton's aims for the forthcoming Championship season.
Speaking after the Saints' final run-out in Germany, as Tonda Eckert's men narrowly beat their 3. Liga hosts SC Preußen Münster 2-1, Downes ambitiously stated that he wants the South Coast giants to be in the title-winning conversation when competitive action kicks off again.
He said in a rather forthright manner: "We've got one goal, and that's to win the league.
"So it doesn't matter whether we're starting on minus four points or not. We're going for that and that's that."
Eckert will have his work cut out for him from the get-go to achieve these bold aims, as the Saints reenter the hustle and bustle of the Championship with a four-point deduction, due to the horrors of Spygate.
But, the 33-year-old does have a plethora of players at his disposal who know what it takes to compete at the very top of the division and succeed, with Lewis Dobbin catching the eye this pre-season as a standout £9m addition, who will only boost Southampton's chances of finally winning promotion.
Dobbin's standout pre-season performances
Dobbin will have put pen to paper on a move to St. Mary's so he can try and add a jubliant promotion to the top-flight on his CV.
He's going the right way in being included in the first few starting XIs Eckert selects for the season starting, as Southampton hunt down immediate wins to wipe that deduction clear, with the ex-Aston Villa youngster bagging three goals from four pre-season match-ups.
Great way to end a valuable week away, enjoyed every minute of my first few weeks!🇩🇪Thank you for your incredible support throughout. See you next week for the real stuff 🫶🏽❤️🥳 pic.twitter.com/1nY5iEeWWw
— Lewis Dobbin (@LewisDobbin) August 2, 2026
Leo Scienza could only muster up one goal in these runouts, in contrast, with Dobbin undoubtedly even hungrier to set the Championship alight, after such a positive start to life on the South Coast.
It's one thing scoring goals by the bucket load in pre-season, but it will be all about translating this red-hot form to the bread and butter of the second tier for the number 11 now, with Dobbin keeping up this fine form over a full campaign to come, alongside Eckert having Cyle Larin and the aforementioned Scienza to select from, surely making Downes' ambitious promotion dreams come true.
He could be key in promotion being won
It's not out of the realms of possibility, either, that Dobbin keeps up this inspired goalscoring form when the Championship clashes come thick and fast this August.
After all, last season for Preston North End, he was a joy to behold, with a devastating 18 goal contributions collected from 33 Championship starts, even as the Lilywhites had to make do with a unmemorable 14th final spot.
It's crazy to think what he could be capable of over a full season in a team expected to be near the top of the Championship mountain, therefore, especially as he has instantly fit into his new environment this summer, without any teething issues tripping him up.
For £9m, he does stand out as a statement signing, with Dobbin's additional firepower potentially turning the Saints into champion-elect material.
The last time the South Coast giants won promotion to the Premier League, it was via the scenic playoff route.
Downes was a part of that noteworthy promotion squad under Russell Martin, but he wants to hold the Championship title aloft this time around, with Dobbin hopefully making those lofty, yet feasible dreams come true with more scintillating second-tier displays.
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