Tonda Eckert has now stumbled upon Southampton’s new Jose Fonte | OneFootball

Southampton’s push to return to the Premier League has revived a familiar storyline, the search for their next Jose Fonte. According to Sainstmarching.com, Taylor Harwood-Bellis could fill that role under Tonda Eckert, helping a promotion bid then bedding in at the top level.

The Saints were a Premier League fixture for 10 straight seasons and twice reached the Europa League, in 2016 and 2017 under Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman. Eight years on, they are far from those heights but sit in the play-offs with promotion in reach.

Fonte is still playing at 42 for Liga Portugal side Casa Pisa, yet his reputation at St Mary’s endures after 288 appearances. Of those, 154 came in the Premier League and 124 in the Championship, where he produced seven goals and 11 assists.

Koeman once described Fonte as a consummate professional. Harwood-Bellis has been praised in similar terms by Eckert, and he underlined his resilience with seven duels won in the 2-0 win over Oxford United just before the international break.

Harwood-Bellis has five goals and one assist, offering set-piece threat that echoes Fonte’s impact. If promotion is secured, Eckert looks to have a defensive leader to build around. Hopefully, he stays, with West Ham United having signed Fonte when Southampton’s league position dipped, and he has only 34 Premier League outings so far.

Source: Sainstmarching.com