Will Smallbone has endured a difficult start to the season as he aims to prove he is capable of performing for Southampton in the Premier League.
Russell Martin is a big fan of Will Smallbone and the midfielder repaid his manager’s faith as he scored seven and assisted four to help Southampton to promotion last season.
Having spent the season on loan at Stoke City when Southampton were relegated in 2022/23, Smallbone will be determined to keep his place for his boyhood club but has struggled in the opening three Premier League matches of the campaign.
Those struggles have continued at international level, with Smallbone’s Ireland suffering consecutive 2-0 Nations League defeats; first to England on Saturday and then to Greece on Tuesday night.
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Southampton’s Will Smallbone criticised despite Man of the Match award for Ireland against Greece
Smallbone started both his country’s matches over the past week, showing he is likely to be a feature of the side under new manager Heimir Hallgrímsson.
Ireland are on a dismal run, having won just two of their last 12 fixtures – with one of those victories coming against Gibraltar – and that continued against Greece on Tuesday night.
Smallbone was awarded the Man of the Match award by the stadium announcer late in the game, which was met by a chorus of boos.
Irish media were not particularly impressed by the 24-year-old’s showing in Dublin, with Balls rating his display a five-and-a-half out of ten, commenting: “Will Smallbone was a far brighter presence in the Ireland team than he was on Saturday, with Heimir Hallgrimsson choosing to push the Southampton man further forward.
“His link-up play led to almost all of Ireland’s best first-half chances, and he tracked back well.
“As the game progressed, Smallbone’s positioning in the team became more erratic, as did his pass selection, with the 24-year-old regularly misplacing simple passes as the clock ticked past 70 minutes.
“Slow to react when the ball was pulled back to him in the box with ten minutes left.”
The Irish Mirror gave Smallbone’s performance a six, adding: “Booed for being awarded the Man of the Match award. Performed better than he did against England as he had more support around him but end product was lacking.”
Smallbone could lose Southampton starting spot against Manchester United
Another two defeats with his country after three losses from three in the Premier League will have done Smallbone’s confidence little good.
Now, Martin has a decision to make on the midfielder after hinting at changes to the side after the 3-1 loss at Brentford last time out.
The likes of Tyler Dibling and Mateus Fernandes are knocking on the door for their first Premier League starts, whilst loan signing Lesley Ugochukwu will also be eyeing his first league minutes for the Saints.
Smallbone could be a victim of both his and Southampton’s struggles as Martin could look to inject some fresh impetus into his Southampton side against Manchester United on Saturday.