Every word Southampton's Eckert said ahead of facing Watford

Are you happy that the club acted right in the transfer window?

TE: Yes, I think it was important that we get the numbers slightly down. I think that's been the thing since the beginning of the season.

I think that changes the dynamics massively. I'm very happy.

What are the benefits of having a slightly smaller squad now?

TE: Not just for me. I think for every staff member. We have a great number of staff, but time still is a limited resource. I think that's normal for every staff.

Not just football staff, also medical staff, S&C. Now, I think we can dedicate even more time to the individuals now. I think we have a good squad size.

There were some tough decisions to make on who's going to be in the squad for the game tomorrow. It shows how high the quality is. I'm very happy.

How do you view the sale of your top scorer Armstrong?

TE: I think Adam Armstrong has written such an unbelievable chapter for this football club. He's been a great servant to Southampton.

But if a player comes to open up some conversations about a potential change, you, as a club, need to be open to listen to whatever is coming in.

I think, in the end, we found a nice solution for all of the parties involved. Then we had Cyle Larin lined up. In the end, I'm very happy.

Is Larin's taller, more physical profile what you wanted?

TE: Well, I think if you look at us as a team in general, and I think that's been the story for most of the season, I think that we have lots of qualities.

Size and physicality is not necessarily one of them, especially if we play with two centre-backs. We can compensate that further up top in some games.

Ross Stewart has given that to us. I don't think that we need that necessarily for every game, but it might help us for some of the games approaching.

Does Bree's return to the club help you with that issue?

TE: Yeah. I think it is as it is, there's been a lot of player movements in the summer. Again, now I'm happy to have James here, not just for his physicality.

We are also happy for the experience that he brings. He's played over 250 games in the Championship, and you can feel that in moments of the game.

It helps us as a group. We've had many players coming in this January from loan or from longer injury. The squad is looking very strong at the moment.

How good has Harwood-Bellis been this week after speculation?

TE: Excellent. I think he was outstanding on the weekend. There are not many players that can play that pass that he played before the first goal.

This situation opens up the whole game for us. I said this to him the other day, I feel that he is growing week by week, month by month.

He's 24 years old, became a father. Many things in life also change with that, and he's taken on more responsibility. You can see that on the pitch.

Was the performance at Stoke the template for the rest of season?

TE: I mean, it shows that we are moving forward. I've been speaking about this for quite a few weeks, months maybe. We need to move forward.

For me, moving forward means a certain solidity in the way we approach games, because we have so much quality further up the pitch.

No matter if everything is in flow or not, we still have enough quality to always score. Sometimes that one goal will need to be enough to win a game.

I think if we manage to make that step, to make that step towards a clean sheet, I think that's actually a huge step forward for us as a group.

What can you make of Watford without a manager again?

TE: Yeah, I can understand where the question is coming from. I've been in Italy for a couple of years, so I'm familiar with the owners.

Quite a few changes. But they still have a very good squad with very good players in there. The good thing is they have played a game midweek.

We have seen some footage of what they have changed and adapted, and it's actually not too much, because in the end the idea also lives with the players.

The players haven't changed massively; they have changed a little bit with Max Alleyne going back and Stephan Mfuni coming in from City again.

It's a different profile, but the team looks quite similar. Some changes in the middle of the pitch on how they are set up, and it's going to be a big challenge.

It's also a big opportunity to go strong tomorrow.

Watford got a good clean sheet in that midweek game at Hull?

TE: Yeah, they were good. They had a good game on Tuesday. I think for us it will be important that we have had a whole week to prepare.

They have been on the road, they will be on the road again, so we need to use this to our advantage, and I think we have done that in the past already.

Do you have any more injuries to worry about this week?

TE: The only one who is seeing a specialist today is Mads Roerslev. We need to see how we can continue and how quickly we can start to load him again.

Jay Robinson has some minor issues with his quad so Jay is not going to be involved tomorrow, but that shouldn't be a long-term thing.

For the rest of the players, the squad is looking good. It's always easier after a win with some days off but we will need to be on top form tomorrow.