Martin has consistently maintained a positive outlook regarding Adams’ availability, insisting before both semi-final legs that the striker was expected to play. This has led to a mix of hope and skepticism among the fans, who are eager to see if Adams will indeed be fit to contribute in the decisive match at Wembley.
As the final approaches, the availability of Che Adams remains uncertain, and his potential absence could significantly impact Southampton’s attacking options and their chances of securing promotion.
Independent media outlet southamptonfcnews have suggested that this might have been the manager was masking the true extent of Adams’ injury to disrupt West Brom’s preparations.
So with Adams heavily linked with a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers when his contract ends in six weeks time, Southampton fans are asking whether the striker has already played his last game for the club, or whether he will be fit for a Wembley swansong.
But perhaps even more worrying was the fact that Ross Stewart played no part in Friday night’s win over the Baggies, he returned to the pitch in that game against Leeds in the 83rd minute to replace Adams as he limped off and then subsequently played 30 minutes in the first leg of the semi finals at the Hawthorns.
This has been his only action since making just two short appearances back in November, his first action since being injured for Sunderland in January 2023.
It was no surprise to see his name on the bench against West Brom on Friday evening, he was expected to build on his first couple of cameo roles, but it seems that even these were a little bit too much too soon.
Russell Martin has had this to say:
He’s (Stewart’s) fine, yeah.”
“He took a whack in the first leg, but he’s taken part in some training and he was only going to be used tonight if we really, really needed him.
“We are really expecting him to be fully fit and recovered in time for the final as well. It could be two really big options for us with Che Adams.”
So the question is just how fit are either striker, the suggestion for Ross Stewart is that he has received a knock rather than a muscular injury pull, so that could give him a fighting chance of playing some part at Wembley, he took part in the warm up before Friday night’s game, but it was reported his warm up was less intense than the rest of his team mates, it was assumed at the time this was merely to do with building up his fitness, but clearly it was about the knock.
However he was moving freely and it seems that Martin is not lying when he says that he was only going to be used if necessary, that is good to hear and the hope is that with 9 days between the semi and the final, Stewart will be fully recovered, although it would seem that he will not be ready just yet for a starting line up appearance at Wembley.
Che Adams is a lot less clear, he too will have had another 9 days to allow his injury to recover, I am sure that Russell Martin will continue to keep his opponents guessing, so we will not know the exact truth of the situation until an hour before kick off.
One thing though does look certain and that is that nether will be ready for the starting line up against Leeds.
Despite concerns over the potential absence of Che Adams, Southampton’s squad depth provides some reassurance as they prepare for the Championship playoff final against Leeds United. Adam Armstrong’s ability to play through the center, along with a range of wide options to support him, means that the team can adapt and still pose a significant attacking threat.
While Adams’ injury is unfortunate, it is not catastrophic. It’s worth noting that during the first 11 games of Southampton’s impressive 22-match unbeaten run in the Championship, Adams did not score. This demonstrates the team’s capability to perform well without relying solely on him. Although Adams became more influential in the latter part of the season, the Saints have shown they can both score and win in his absence. Ideally, they would prefer to have him available, but his potential absence is a challenge they can manage.
Ross Stewart’s situation is somewhat different. His contributions in his four appearances have been limited, mainly focused on reintegrating him into the team rather than making a substantial impact. The team has yet to score during his time on the pitch, which highlights his current lack of influence. However, Stewart is a proven goalscorer and could serve as a crucial wildcard at Wembley. Having reached the playoff final without significant input from Stewart, the team is not overly dependent on him. Any positive impact he can make on Sunday would be an added bonus, and he should not be underestimated as a potential game-changer.
In summary, while the possible absence of Adams is a setback, Southampton’s squad depth and versatility, coupled with the wildcard potential of Ross Stewart, provide a strong foundation for a successful playoff final against Leeds United.
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