Russell Martin revealed that striker Ché Adams is improving ahead of the second leg of Southampton’s play-off semi-final with West Brom and “is giving everything he can to be fit for the game”.
Adams missed the 0-0 draw at The Hawthorns on Sunday through injury, but Saints are retaining hope that he could be available for the decider at St Mary’s on Friday night.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Martin said: “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.”
The Saints boss also gave his thoughts on the match itself, as the clock ticks down to the crunch meeting.
“There will be some nerves, some excitement, some tension in the legs for both teams, both coaching staffs, both sets of fans, because it’s a huge game,” he said.
“But what a game to look forward to, what a game to be involved in at our place, so the overriding feeling is I just want the game to come. I feel like the preparations have gone really well and the team’s in a good place, but the team that embraces the feeling they have and deals with that the best will win, I really believe that.”
Martin added: “We have practised and prepared for every situation and scenario we can think of, but you can’t ever really replicate an occasion like that and the emotion and feeling that comes with that.
“So, of course, you prepare as best as you possibly can and then you give it all up and you trust the work and the detail and hope it comes off.”