Neil Warnock says one player could potentially give Southampton a ‘massive lift’ in the Championship play-off final vs Leeds United next weekend.
Leeds United booked their place in the Championship play-off final after beating Norwich City on Thursday night, whilst Southampton booked theirs after beating West Brom on Friday.
The Saints, after drawing the first leg 0-0 at The Hawthorns, beat Carlos Corberan’s West Brom 3-1, with all four goals coming in the second half.
Cedric Kipre’s late goal for the Baggies proved to be a consolation after Will Smallbone scored the opener, with Adam Armstrong scoring a brace.
In the final league table, Leeds United finished in 3rd and Southampton in 4th, with just three points separating the two.
Russell Martin’s Southampton though beat Leeds United on both occasions in the 2023/24 campaign, with the last being a 2-1 win at Elland Road at the start of May.
Neil Warnock comments on Che Adams at Southampton
Striker Che Adams missed both legs vs West Brom due to injury. Martin though revealed before the second leg that Adams was working hard to return for the clash at St Mary’s.
Martin said on Thursday: “He’s in a good place, he’s in a much better place than he was and he’s giving everything he can to be fit for the game.”
And Warnock believes that Adams potentially returning for the play-off final at Wembley could be a huge boost for Martin and the Southampton players.
The 75-year-old said on Sky Sports after Southampton beat West Brom: “He [Martin] will be hoping that Che Adams is fit, just to give him something else.
“If he could be fit, even on the bench, it would give them a massive lift because he gives something different if they need it.”
Che Adams facing fitness race ahead of Southampton vs Leeds United
Adams looked close to making a return to action vs West Brom. But missing out on the game entirely, and now having more than a week to prepare for the Leeds game could mean he plays a part at Wembley.
And like Warnock says, having him in the squad, potentially as an option off the bench late on, could be crucial for Martin.
The 27-year-old scored 16 goals and created four more in 40 Championship outings this season, with a lot of his goals earlier in the campaign coming off the bench.
So having two prolific strikers in Adams and Armstrong will certainly give Leeds United boss Daniel Farke some food for thought; the not-knowing of whether or not Adams features could also give him a headache.
And like Warnock suggests, Adams’ play can different greatly to that of Armstrong, with Adams perhaps more of a creative striker compared to his striker partner Armstrong, so it’s another option for Martin if Adams is fit.
Martin will surely manage Adams’ injury this week in the hope of getting him back for the Leeds game, with the Saints facing a crucial week of training and preparation ahead of what promises to be a gruelling play-off final.