Southampton v Stoke live: Eckert confirms change, Azaz set to start, kick-off at 3pm | OneFootball

Southampton return to St Mary's this afternoon to face Stoke City in the Championship, with both teams chasing their first points of the season. Kick-off is at 3pm BST.

According to Daily Echo, Tonda Eckert has confirmed he will make at least one change to the side that began at Watford, with Finn Azaz set to return to the XI, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis is not in today's squad.

The squad have arrived at St Mary's as the build-up continues.

Eckert said he missed the initial handshake with Mark Robins while celebrating a birthday win, intended to apologise, and later shared a respectful drink with the Coventry manager.

On selection calls, he explained that substitutions are shaped by pre-planned scenarios and feel in the moment. He highlighted Tom Fellows' strong display in the last meeting with Stoke and suggested the winger could have a big impact today.

Assessing the final 10 days of the window, he said he is more than confident of further business and of reducing the squad size, noting that a 27-man senior group is too large.

Source: Daily Echo

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