Flynn Downes is in the early conversation for being one of Southampton's most consistent performers this season.

The energetic 27-year-old very rarely has an off-day, with Downes boasting two assists from his ten Championship games so far this campaign.

That isn't all he can shout about, however, as away from being classy on the ball with a 92% pass accuracy average, the lively number four also sticks out as a "terrier" for Tonda Eckert's men - as the Daily Echo's Alfie House has affectionately labelled him - with 5.3 duels won on average per match.

He would win seven valiant duels and tackles during the South Coast Derby, when the Saints needed a leader from the middle of the park after Cameron Bragg had been dismissed.

Unfortunately, he could be out of the team for the trip to West Ham United, as he battles with his fitness after going down with a troubling ankle problem against Norwich City.

Thankfully, if Downes isn't deemed fit enough to start against his ex-side, Eckert has a fix staring him straight in the face, with the German admitting, in his pre-match thoughts, that this stand-in is ready to go.

Eckert has a Downes fix staring him in the face

Downes being out of the side has coincided with the return of this midfielder.

Indeed, Caspar Jander is now back in action for the Saints, after finding himself in the treatment room for some time after picking up a pre-season injury.

In the build-up to the clash at the London Stadium, Eckert admitted that Jander has had a "very good week" and he "will be involved tomorrow."

The fix for Downes not being 100% is simply staring the 33-year-old in the face, therefore, as Jander can offer the South Coast visitors exactly what their tenacious number four provides.

He display the same grit Downes has shown in abundance this season from just an 18 minute cameo against Portsmouth, as he came back into the team for his first minutes since his injury, and won a breathless four tackles and duels.

Alongside that, during his full debut season on English shores, he further averaged a gleaming 89% pass accuracy in Championship action.

Slot him alongside James Ward-Prowse against the Hammers, and suddenly, losing Downes - who is a crucial cog under Eckert - doesn't feel quite as painful.

He has also shown during his short stay at St. Mary's to date that he can perform excellently during big occasions, so a trip to West Ham - the division's top dogs - won't faze him either...

He shouldn't be scared by the prospect of West Ham

Last campaign, Jander stood out, as Eckert and Co. narrowly lost to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi final.

Not dazzled by the bright lights of Wembley, or the illustrious opponents, the one-time FC Nürnberg battler would come away from the game as a standout performer for the Saints, with 11 tackles and duels won, and only three passes given up from his dominant 53 touches of the ball.

He won't feel flustered coming up against the likes of Arne Engels for the promotion chasing hosts, if he can hold his own against Mateo Kovacic.

Caspar Jander for #SaintsFC vs Manchester City:

50 touches
23/26 passes completed
3 passes into final third
100% successful dribbles
7 tackles
7 recoveries
4 clearances
8 ground duels won

Absolutely outstanding. 👏🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/v9kvQKRZuo

— SaintsExtra (@SaintsExtra) April 25, 2026

Saints Extra on social media would label his showing at Wembley as "absolutely outstanding", but it isnt just the FA Cup semi final in isolation where Jander has prospered.

In the playoff semi-finals back in May, which controversially amounted to nothing, Jander would amass a mammoth 102 accurate passes across both legs, as he dictated play from the centre of the park, just like Downes does week in week out.

He also won a combined 13 duels against Kim Hellberg's Middlesbrough, meaning he should be able to fill in for Downes, if Eckert doesn't want to risk him.

Jander has been noted as having "ridiculous" ability in recent times by the aforementioned House, with the journalist further tipping the 23-year-old to hit the top-flight, with or without the Saints.

He will surely have Premier League admirers watching on if he enters the starting XI against the Hammers and calmly goes about his business.