Eckert insists Harwood-Bellis is still training for Southampton | OneFootball

Saints manager Tonda Eckert says Taylor Harwood-Bellis has continued to train despite not featuring amid uncertainty over his future.

The 24-year-old was left out for a second straight game as Southampton lost 4-1 to West Ham in the Carabao Cup second round.

Southampton rejected an £18 million offer from Aston Villa this month, with the Villans for now stepping away. Saints are holding firm on their valuation of the one-time England international, who joined for £20 million.

Eckert would not confirm whether Harwood-Bellis will be reintegrated for Saturday’s Championship match against Millwall. “We are having conversations,” he told the Daily Echo. “Let’s see how the next few days go; maybe we have something to announce.”

“He’s been around. When you’re in the middle of negotiations, and you have the idea to play in the Champions League, it’s not always easy to process.

“I tried to say something on the weekend. But he’s around, and he’s training, so let’s see what the next days will hold for him.”

With Harwood-Bellis absent, attention turned to those selected at centre-back, with Jack Stephens enduring a difficult night against Joel Piroe. “As a group, there’s things that we need to do better, things to work on, work to do. I wouldn’t point that down to any individual players,” said Eckert.

Saints are seeking a centre-midfielder before the deadline, with the summer window closing at 11pm on Tuesday. “We’re having conversations. I think we know that we need to do something, and I’m sure that we will get something done over,” Eckert said.

Source: Daily Echo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”