Tonda Eckert has only himself to blame if he makes this Léo Scienza decision

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert hints that fan-favourite winger Léo Scienza will be available back from injury for the Arsenal FA Cup tie.

Southampton’s 2‑0 win over Oxford was near impeccable on all metrics. An early finish from Cyle Larin and a golazo from Shea Charles ensured the Saints held onto their playoff spot comfortably heading into the March international break.

While the win checked every sporting box, fans left with only one desire unfulfilled in an otherwise dominant display. The supporters missed Léo Scienza’s action for yet another matchday after his groin injury.

It turns out that boss Tonda Eckert’s hint came to pass in Ross Stewart’s favour over Scienza. The former made a return against Oxford United for a half-hour cameo later in the second half.

To Southampton fans’ relief, fan favourite winger Léo Scienza’s return is just around the corner. According to Tonda Eckert, the player would be available for Southampton’s FA Cup tie against Arsenal.

As quoted by Saints Extra, Eckert updated on Scienza’s recovery, saying: “He was close for this game, but he’ll be back after the break [to face Arsenal].”

Eckert must be wary not to start Scienza against Arsenal

Reading between the lines of Eckert’s comment, Scienza could’ve been forced into the Oxford matchday squad if required. Instead, the club took the cautious route, and it needs to be repeated when they host Arsenal after the break.

With two weeks of uninterrupted training ahead, Scienza should be back to full fitness against Arsenal. Even so, there are plenty of reasons for Eckert to limit his involvement in the FA Cup tie.

First and foremost, Scienza’s groin injury looked much more frightening before the scan results arrived. Until Tonda Eckert updated on his quick recovery, there were genuine fears his season might be over.

Throwing him straight into a physical Premier League clash would only increase the risk of relapse. Given Southampton’s ongoing playoff quest, boss Tonda can’t afford this risk.

Secondly, the FA Cup tie is Southampton’s secondary concern amidst their focus on returning to the Premier League. With a playoff decider against Wrexham looming just 72 hours after the Arsenal tie, Tonda Eckert must prioritise resting his key players in the Cup.

Ultimately, everything hints that Southampton should be extremely cautious with Scienza’s return. If he does feature against Arsenal, it should only be a short cameo to build his game rhythm for the crucial Championship games ahead.

Can Southampton take a flyer on Samuel Edozie for FA Cup tie?

So far, boss Tonda Eckert has tried multiple players to fill in Scienza’s absence. While none have disappointed, Samuel Edozie has impressed the most in the manager’s search for a like-for-like replacement for Scienza.

Given his first Championship start of the season against Norwich, Edozie impressed with his creativity on the left wing. He created chances, drew fouls, and even though he had scored, only for the goal to be ruled out for Fin Azaz’s offside involvement.

Samuel Edozie continued his brilliance in the half-hour cameo against Oxford recently. The winger created two brilliant chances that were squandered by subpar finishing from his teammates.

Such exceptional displays vouch for Edozie’s name for a start against Arsenal in the FA Cup knockout. It could be a low-risk experiment that holds a limitless upside for Southampton.

With Léo Scienza only just back from injury, starting Edozie against Arsenal reduces the risk of a relapse. If the winger impresses, Eckert gains a genuine rotation option to help manage Scienza’s minutes.

In the worst-case scenario, nothing changes. Southampton can continue trusting Scienza as the primary left winger while Edozie continues in his current backup role.