'Premier League return well and truly in Saints' sights'
Final Score reporter Will Perry says Tonda Eckert's successful season will keep him as Saints head coach.
Tonda Eckert won Championship manager of the month for March [PA Media] The EFL could well have egg on their face. No place for Tonda Eckert on the manager of the season shortlist? Southampton's social media post simply reads, "just don't think they understand".
They were a place above the relegation zone when the unknown German was appointed caretaker in November following the sacking of Will Still. Now Saints are unbeaten in 17 games in all competitions and sitting comfortably in a play-off spot with a game in hand. Plus they'll hope there's still three trips to Wembley to come, with a date already in the diary - on 25 April - to take on Manchester City in an FA Cup semi-final.
It's not beyond the realms of possibility that they'll compete for an automatic promotion spot in their five remaining Championship games. No matter what happens in the run-in, there's surely no doubt that Eckert will lead Saints next season. At the turn of the year a Premier League return looked impossible; it's now well and truly in their sights.