A point deduction at the start of the season made Southampton’s ascent up the Championship table more challenging than any other team, but the Saints have made sure this setback hasn’t defined them.

After being found guilty of spying on opponents the previous season, Southampton was docked four points to start the 2026–27 Championship season. However, Tonda Eckert’s team is making every effort to make sure this doesn’t hurt them come May.

The Saints would be in second place after 12 games, behind only Middlesbrough in the standings, with outstanding wins against teams like Millwall, Swansea City, and West Ham United, if they hadn’t been docked a point at the start of the season.

The Southampton team still relies heavily on players like Cyle Larin, Leo Scienza, and Finn Azaz, but there have also been some unsung heroes along the way, none more deserving than right-back James Bree.

Under Tonda Eckert, James Bree has grown to be a crucial member of Southampton.

Since the German took over at St Mary’s after Will Still was fired in November 2025, Bree, 28, has become Eckert’s top choice at right-back.

With two goals and one assist in 12 games so far this season, including the game-winning goal against Portsmouth in the derby and a powerful goal against West Ham United that is certain to be a candidate for goal of the season.

Although his path to this point wasn’t easy by any means, the Englishman is currently among the first names on the St. Mary’s squad sheet, and with good cause.

James Bree was acquired by Southampton from Luton Town for a mere £750k.

Bree began his career with Barnsley, where he made 61 appearances in South Yorkshire before landing a transfer to Aston Villa in January 2017.

After struggling to fit in with Villa Park’s first squad, Bree went on loan to Ipswich Town and Luton Town before securing a permanent transfer to Kenilworth Road in the summer of 2020.

After three years with the Hatters, which helped the team stay in the Championship, he joined Southampton in January 2023 for an incredible £750k.

Tonda Eckert brought James Bree back into the Southampton fold and has been rewarded

When Bree first arrived, he had to compete with Tino Livramento and Kyle Walker-Peters for right-back minutes. As a result, he was frequently restricted to playing from the bench.

In the summer of 2025, former head coach Still signed two Danish players, Mads Roerslev and Elias Jelert, and let Bree go on loan to Charlton Athletic, a rival team in the Championship. Ronnie Edwards also played that role for the Saints.

But since Eckert took over as Hampshire’s manager from Still, the German has made a few significant hiring choices. The squad’s performance was undoubtedly improved by the January loan additions of Daniel Peretz and Cyle Larin, but the German manager’s decision to bring back Bree from his loan at The Valley during the same window may have been even more brilliant.

Bree, who is unquestionably one of the greatest and most reliable full-backs in the league, has played almost every minute under Eckert since his return to the team and has finally received just compensation for his choice.

This season, James Bree will be crucial to Southampton’s chances in the Premier League.

This season, Southampton is firmly in the Championship automatic-promotion race, and any chance the Saints have of making a comeback to the top division will depend on players like Bree continuing to play at a high level.

Larin, Scienza, Lewis Dobbin, James Ward-Prowse, Jack Stephens, and Peretz will all undoubtedly play significant roles alongside Bree, but Bree lacks a clear backup.

Eckert will continue to rely on the right-back to spearhead the attack, and the 28-year-old, who currently has over 250 Championship appearances under his belt, will be crucial to Saints’ chances of promotion.