The Southampton XI Tonda Eckert should pick at Vicarage Road | OneFootball

Tonda Eckert faces a near full-strength Southampton for Vicarage Road, with only Caspar Jander a fitness doubt, according to Sainstmarching.com.

Daniel Peretz should start after his loan was made permanent, with Aaron Ramsdale featuring for the under-21s last week and missing the matchday squad. At right-back, James Bree keeps the shirt ahead of Mads Roerslev, signed for that role before injury hit his first season, after a Charlton return and new terms.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jack Stephens continue, Benfica bid or no Benfica bid. Left-back is tight, Welington for pace, power and overlap, Ryan Manning for set-piece delivery and a standout at Colchester.

Flynn Downes anchors midfield, Leo Scienza starts wide and Lewis Dobbin's sharp pre-season and versatility strengthen his case.

Downes needs a partner, with Kuryu Matsuki used at Colchester without looking fully at home, and Cameron Bragg the alternative. In the number 10 role, Finn Azaz, who made Southampton tick last season, changed the game in a 15-minute cameo. It was his first outing since May, so Dobbin starts and Azaz is held for around the hour when Watford legs are gone.

Up front, Cyle Larin, Divin Mubama, Ben Brereton Diaz, Damion Downs and Cameron Archer are all fit. Mubama gets the nod after a full pre-season with Manchester City, scoring twice, while Larin has one hour since the World Cup.

Suggested XI: Peretz, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Welington, Bragg, Downes, Scienza, Dobbin, Fellows, Mubama. Get those calls right and the bench should swing the final 20 minutes.

Source: Sainstmarching.com

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