Every word Southampton FC's Eckert said ahead of Millwall

Here is every word the German said on the latest regarding Taylor Harwood-Bellis, team fitness, what to expect from the Lions and more...

What is the latest with Taylor, please?

TE: There's not really anything new.

Again, there's interest and there's a conversation, but no further updates since Tuesday.

I'm guessing he won't be involved again tomorrow. This needs to happen now, doesn't it, for all parties?

TE: I'm talking every day to Taylor at the moment. At the moment, he's a Southampton player.

Can you tell us about Keven Schlotterbeck and what he brings to the squad with his experience?

TE: He brings over 150 games in the Bundesliga, I think one of the best competitions in Europe.

He's captained his club. [He's] also been a captain last week in their cup game.

Left foot. That was important for me to have a left-footed centre-back in the building.

Good in the air and I think he's going to be able to help us straight away.

Do you feel that a bit of fresh blood in the camp will do well after everything that's happened?

TE: Yes, I think it always does. Every team is in evolution and I think in every summer you need some fresh blood and faces.

I'm very happy to have Keven in the building.

How are you getting on whittling your squad down a bit?

TE: The last days of the window are always very busy and I think that we are on a good way.

How's Caspar Jander?

TE: Yes, we were hoping for him to return a little bit quicker.

The initial plan has now taken a little bit longer. His muscle hasn't really reacted too well on the first training sessions.

But we're talking about a week back in time and the last days have been positive, so I'm hoping that will be very soon.

Before the break, or do you think you need to be sensible?

TE: No, definitely before the break.

And Mads Roerslev, how's his progress?

TE: Yes, he's looking good physically at the very moment.

I think that the competition for him with James [Bree] is not easy, but he looks good physically.

You need him to give James some pressure, don't you?

TE: Yes, I think every player needs some competition, I agree.

I think that James has been very consistent and he knows what I think of him and how much I rate him as a player and as a character.

So I'm very happy with James in that position.

How would you look back at pre-season?

TE: I think these dynamics are a little bit more complex. The dynamics of where a team is at the beginning of when you start playing games.

Yes, they do relate to pre-season and yes, they do relate to physical levels, but I think that the dynamic, especially towards the end of a window, is a lot more complex than just the physical state of players.

We've had a deep dive, like we always do after the games where we stand, also in comparison to the league.

We've had a look at how that looks for Premier League teams, teams in League One and League Two, and it's true that there's a way to go.

There's levels to go for us as a team.

But the dynamics behind where we are at the very moment, I think they are more complex than just the amount of weeks that you spend in pre-season.

As an example, I think that Finn Azaz has one of the best physical levels, even if you look at the last games, and he probably had the most interrupted pre-season.

Again, it's something that we look at and that we consider after every single game, but we need to step up, also physically, but the dynamics behind that are complex.

You said on Tuesday night that you play to win. Do you think there's been a little bit of players thinking they're going to win games because they're used to it?

TE: I think there's a lot of things that come together, and I think that we need to be careful to not mix things up.

I think every season is a new start and a new dynamic, always.

There are certain behaviours, a way of protecting each other on the pitch, a way of accepting that there are going to be mistakes on the pitch, accepting that there are moments in the game that don't go the way you want them to, and then our reaction to that.

I think that is something that we need to work on. There is work to do, and we will get better.

How do you feel about Millwall?

TE: Yes, first of all, it's a very good opposition. They were fighting for direct promotion for very long.

In the last season, they were almost there, and now they've started the season with two wins.

Very, very clear identity, so I think it's very clear to know what's coming up.

Clearly, the basis of this game is a structure defensively, and then they do have some quick solutions of going forward, lots of crosses that we will have to defend.

We know exactly what's coming up, and then it's for us to take that as it is and show where we are.

I imagine you like Alex Neil's approach of not spending a lot of money?

TE: If we only look at the players that Millwall have brought in over the summer, I think they are very clear and fit very clearly in the way that he wants to play football.

I think we've seen that in the last game that they bring in a new player and he scores straight away.

They've changed a little bit the way that they play up front. The centre-backs have been consistent.

They're very clear on their identity inside the pitch in terms of midfielders.

They've brought a player in that plays in the middle of the pitch and has a high, high intensity. I think the highest stats so far for his work rate against the ball.

I think everything that they've done over the summer has been consistent.

We are expecting a good team on Saturday. I think they come exactly at the right time for us to show what we are about.