The three Southampton players Tonda Eckert may drop for Lincoln | OneFootball

Southampton return to Championship action at Sincil Bank tomorrow lunchtime, and Tonda Eckert may freshen his side after a 1-1 away draw.

According to Sainstmarching.com, this is the first league meeting in 65 years, with Lincoln promoted as League One title winners and arriving on the back of two clean sheets. The hosts will have noted Southampton’s opening-day collapse at Watford and are expected to test the visitors physically.

Nathan Wood could be the harsh call. He has not struggled since replacing Taylor Harwood-Bellis, winning six duels at St Andrew’s and misplacing only five of 53 passes.

Yet the trip may be used to assess Nottingham Forest loanee Zach Abbott, who is unlikely to be fazed by the physically imposing Freddie Draper after Europa League action last season. With Keven Schlotterbeck on the scoresheet last time out, Wood may be the one to make way.

Cameron Bragg is another talented option who might miss out despite his promise at 21. He delivered four key passes in the 5-1 win over Millwall, but in the following outing he registered zero key passes, won two of seven duels and was withdrawn just after the hour.

That could open the door for James Ward-Prowse, who looked lively off the bench in that game, producing two shots and one key pass in 29 minutes. His set-piece pedigree might prove decisive if the contest is tight.

Tom Fellows is also under consideration after a hit-and-miss week. He scored his first Saints goal late against Millwall, then managed one shot from 28 touches before Kuryu Matsuki replaced him. Matsuki did not register a shot either, so Eckert could stick with Fellows or turn to Samuel Edozie, whose late-window transfer request did not come off.

Source: Sainstmarching.com

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