Southampton boss eases injury worry after huge win over Millwall

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert expressed optimism regarding the potential return of midfielder Flynn Downes for Tuesday’s match against Birmingham. This follows Downes' unfortunate cut to the eyebrow sustained during the Saints' impressive 5-1 victory over Millwall, which compelled him to be substituted at halftime. The returning South Hampton midfielder made a strong impact upon his re-introduction to the team.

Eckert assured that the injury won't pose a serious threat, stating, "No, it was just a cut [above the eyebrow], so we’ll try everything to get him on the pitch on Tuesday." James Ward-Prowse, who had recently returned to Southampton on Friday after signing a two-year contract, completed his comeback, and Eckert sees him as a valuable addition to the squad.

"I’m very happy for him being with us, a big, big presence for the experience that he brings," Eckert remarked. "He knows the club inside out. Even though obviously there’s a couple of things that have changed over the last few years, there are still a lot of familiar faces. I think it’s just so good to have him around, and he’s going to be, I think, very important for us this season."