The Championship returned from the international break with a hectic three-game week, and Southampton will seek to make it three victories in a row at home against Bolton Wanderers.

The Saints have had a fantastic week, with the news that head coach Tonda Eckert will not be banned from the dugout coming before a 1-0 South Coast derby win over Portsmouth and then a 1-0 victory over Norwich City on Wednesday to catapult them into the play-offs.

Bolton recovered from a disheartening defeat against Stoke City, in which the Potters were down to ten men for the most of the game, with an emphatic 3-1 away win over Wolves, but this trip to St Mary’s will be difficult.

Southampton are at home in the Championship this season.

Games

Wins

Draws: 0 Defeats: 0 Goals: 0

16 goals surrendered.

Tonda Eckert’s club is the only one in the EFL with a perfect home record this season, and they’ll be looking to make it six wins from six at St Mary’s against the reigning League One play-off champions.

Here is the team news for this Saturday’s match.

Southampton Flynn Downes

Southampton’s impressive start to the Championship season has been bolstered by a near-perfect injury record.

Flynn Downes is a fresh doubt after being substituted after only 22 minutes against Norwich on Wednesday. However, Tonda Eckert stated after the game that the midfielder ordered him to “strap me up, and I’ll play on Saturday.”

With the Saints’ depth options across the pitch, the German manager may yet choose to rest the 27-year-old, who has started every league game this season.

Casper Jander, despite being on a minutes limit, accelerated his rehabilitation by replacing Downes midway through the first half, and Cameron Bragg will return after being sent off in the South Coast Derby the previous weekend.

Bolton Wanderers’ Chris Forino

Bolton’s only confirmed absentee is Chris Forino, who has missed the last four games due to a groin injury. Bolton manager Steven Schumacher stated that he could be back for the visit of Middlesbrough next weekend if all goes well, but the game against Southampton comes too soon,

with him only returning to training towards the end of this week. The 26-year-old defender was one of the Trotters’ better players through the opening six games of the campaign.

Otherwise, like Tonda Eckert, Schumacher has the luxury of being able to cut and replace players who he believes need a rest. He made five changes for the win over Wolves, with Kyliane Dong going out entirely for rest.

Luca Stephenson, who has been out since suffering a thigh injury on opening day, David Watson, and John McAtee have all maintained their fitness in Under-21 action over the last week.