Southampton news: Ward-Prowse starts, Jander setback, Archer scores in France
News summary
James Ward-Prowse starts at Lincoln. Eckert gave that away on Friday without being asked, because the Shea Charles exit has left him short in midfield.
Caspar Jander has had another setback. Eckert talked about days rather than weeks, though he will miss Lincoln and probably the game after it.
An extra sales window for the Portsmouth home game opened on Friday morning, and only supporters with recent buying history could access it.
Adam Lallana's under-21s are still unbeaten. Harry Gathercole equalised late at Bolton after Sufianu Dibaga carved out the opening. Dibaga hit a post too.
Franny Benali is pleased the window has closed and would rather judge the squad on what is in the building now. He still regrets losing Charles and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
The third kit gets its competitive debut at Lincoln.
Transfer news
Zach Abbott beat the deadline. He arrived on a season-long loan from Nottingham Forest, and two training sessions were enough for Eckert to include him in the squad at Lincoln today.
Xander Grieves has joined the Academy from Wolves on a two-year contract. Andy Goldie called it competition rather than need, though only a handful of academy arrivals get to warm up alongside Daniel Peretz and George Long before a Championship game.
Aaron Ramsdale could still move while some windows stay open, though Eckert answered by talking about Daniel Peretz instead. He restated the commitment made to Peretz as number one, and noted that Ramsdale has only just become a father again.
Sam Edozie ended up staying despite pushing for a move. He has been open since the first day of pre-season about wanting more game time, though Eckert says the relationship is still a good one and has included him in the squad.
Cameron Archer scored on his Auxerre debut against Lyon on Friday night. Finishing was the part of his game that never quite materialised in a Saints shirt, so finding the back of the net on debut in France should stand him in good stead for the season.
Matchday
Southampton have not played Lincoln in the league since 1961. The 12.30 start is on Sky Sports+ in the UK, but an early kick-off after Tuesday night in Birmingham is not the kindest schedule. The Championship is relentless, so Eckert's skill of managing his players' minutes will be put to the test when Swansea visit St Mary's on Tuesday night.
Chris Cohen is in joint charge of the Imps. He coached the Saints' first team not long ago, and only the four-point deduction keeps Eckert's side below a Lincoln team that has started quite well, amassing four points.
Leo Scienza has started every league game and carries a 7.73 average rating, with 8.7 against Millwall his best. He set up Keven Schlotterbeck at Birmingham, so his creative contribution far outweighs his finishing.
Cyle Larin has five already. Eckert expects Lincoln to go long and play for territory, so Saints will try to keep the ball down and starve them.
Saints Marching opinion
Charles leaving was always going to make this window tricky. Ward-Prowse walking straight into the team is the answer Eckert has obviously reached for in Jander's absence.
Zach Abbott is the more interesting call. The Livramento comparison is an unusual one, but Abbott arrives with Premier League and Europa League minutes behind him and a long season ahead where he could prove to be very useful.
Cameron Bragg will drop out, which is tough for a teenager who made an impact in the Birmingham game after coming on. Eckert will take the safer option today and rest his coveted youngster for at least an hour.
Beat Lincoln and Saints move to two points a game across five. That would be promotion form, deduction and all.
