Southampton FC: Tonda Eckert drops new Finn Azaz situation update | OneFootball

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert has provided an injury update on Saints ace Finn Azaz.

Southampton moved to fourth in the Championship table with a 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday.

The Saints' triumph over Rovers means that they are eight points clear of seventh-place Wrexham, and just three points behind second-place Ipswich Town.

Remarkably, automatic promotion is now a genuine possibility for the St Mary's Stadium outfit, despite the poor start to the season they made under former boss Will Still.

Southampton face Swansea City this Saturday, and will be determined to earn their seventh consecutive Championship victory when they travel to South Wales.

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert provides Finn Azaz injury update

The Saints earned their convincing triumph over Blackburn on Tuesday even though influential attacking midfielder Finn Azaz was absent through injury.

Azaz notched an assist when Tonda Eckert's men defeated Derby County 2-1 last Saturday, and provided both a goal and an assist in their impressive 5-1 victory over Wrexham.

Meanwhile, as reported by the Southern Daily Echo's Alfie House via X, Eckert revealed that he is 'quite positive' that the Ireland international will be fit to play against Swansea.

The 25-year-old has scored 11 goals and produced eight assists in 39 Championship appearances so far this term, proving that he has what it takes to trouble Vitor Matos' side.

Last time Southampton took on Swansea, the second-tier rivals played out a 0-0 draw at St Mary's Stadium back in October.

The Saints will hope to prove their clinical edge on Saturday, though, and Azaz's return to fitness could help his side to yet another victory at the business end of the campaign.

Southampton could be on the verge of another perfect game week

Southampton have been absolutely flying since the turn of the year, and have deservedly reached the FA Cup semi-finals, while they are also in touching distance of the Championship's automatic promotion spots.

Tuesday night was a particularly good night for the Saints, as their triumph over Blackburn coincided with automatic promotion rivals Ipswich Town's 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth.

Eckert's men can enjoy a similarly perfect weekend, as fellow top-two chasers Ipswich and Middlesbrough clash with each other at Portman Road on Sunday.

If Southampton beat Swansea on Saturday, they will be level on points with the second-placed Tractor Boys, and at least one of Kieran McKenna's men or Kim Hellberg's side are guaranteed to drop points when they face each other.

Millwall will also be enthused by the fact that they will overtake McKenna's side with a victory over Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, but the Lions have failed to win four of their last five games, so a three-point haul is far from guaranteed.

Middlesbrough and Millwall's poor form in recent weeks has heavily bolstered the Saints' automatic promotion credentials, while the Tractor Boys have also dropped points.

Southampton should be confident that they can get the better of Swansea and Bristol City in their next two games, before their vital meeting with Ipswich in their penultimate game.