Eckert Confirms Ross Stewart Return for FA Cup Trip to Fulham
ross stewart is set to return to the matchday squad, Head Coach Tonda Eckert confirmed as Southampton prepare for Sunday’s Emirates FA Cup trip to Premier League side Fulham. Eckert said the striker missed the recent 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday with muscle tightness but has been passed fit and will be involved for the cup tie. Two other players, Jay Robinson and Welington, remain unavailable as the team begins a run of consecutive away fixtures.
Ross Stewart passed fit for Fulham
Eckert made the update as Saints head into a busy sequence of away games following the 3-1 victory that extended the club’s unbeaten run to nine matches. “Jay [Robinson] and Wely are still going to take a little bit longer but Ross [Stewart] is going to be involved, so that’s a positive, ” said Tonda Eckert, Head Coach, Southampton FC. Eckert added that the Fulham match is a “big game” and that he expects the team to “leave everything out on the pitch on Sunday. “
Team news and fitness picture
Stewart missed the Sheffield Wednesday match because of muscle tightness after a congested schedule that saw him play twice in a three-game week. Eckert described Stewart’s absence as precautionary and emphasised careful management of the striker’s minutes. Jay Robinson and Welington are both still on the mend and will not be available for the trip. Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy remains sidelined following wrist surgery and Mads Roerslev has been ruled out for the rest of the season after an Achilles operation, leaving Eckert to manage his personnel across the forthcoming fixtures.
Immediate reaction and preparation
On the squad’s condition, Eckert highlighted the benefit of a rare week of recovery: “The good thing is that we had a week that already feels like a break even though it’s only a week. There hasn’t been too many weeks where you have seven days to actually prepare for something coming up, so I feel that we are in a very good condition to go into this block of five games. ” The coach signalled an intent to select a strong side for the cup tie and stressed preparation and focus ahead of the visit to Fulham.
What’s next
With squad balance and fitness management front of mind, Eckert will name his matchday selection ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup tie and will monitor recovery for those still returning from injury. The immediate expectation is that ross stewart will be available to feature as Southampton look to progress in the competition while managing ongoing absences across the squad.
