Southampton Pre-Season in Germany: Key Players Missing

Southampton will head into a key pre-season block in Germany without three of their attacking options, as Caspar Jander, Finn Azaz and Sam Edozie stay behind to nurse minor injuries.

Head coach Tonda Eckert has named a 29-man group for the eight-day trip, which includes friendlies against Eintracht Braunschweig and Preuben Munster wrapped around a training camp in North Rhine-Westphalia. The focus will be on sharpening fitness and structure, but it will have to be done without three players who were expected to push hard for minutes this summer.

Injuries

Jander’s setback came first. The midfielder was forced off during Southampton’s opening pre-season outing against Eastleigh last Saturday, a game designed to ease players back into rhythm. The knock is described as minor, yet significant enough to keep him at the Staplewood training ground while the rest of the squad flies out.

Azaz and Edozie join him on the treatment tables at the club’s base. Both miss out on valuable time to impress Eckert in more intense surroundings, as the new campaign edges into view and competition for places tightens.

The decision is clear: protect short-term fitness to avoid a longer-term problem. While the main group works under Eckert in Germany, the trio will continue tailored recovery programmes at Staplewood, aiming to be ready when competitive football returns.

Upcoming Schedule

The schedule ramps up quickly once Southampton land back in England. Their EFL Cup campaign opens against Colchester United, a first real marker of where Eckert’s work is taking hold. Then comes the Championship curtain-raiser away at Watford.

By then, Southampton will hope Jander, Azaz and Edozie have traded the treatment room for the team sheet.