Despite a loss to Newcastle United, one Southampton player shone for Russell Martin’s side.
The Southampton side were unable to take control against a Newcastle United side that went down to 10 men following an off-the-ball collision between Fabian Schar and Ben Brereton Diaz, which saw the Swiss defender shown a red card.
The Saints will be disappointed to have not taken advantage of a golden opportunity to get points on the board at St James’ Park, however certain individuals did manage to perform well for Russell Martin’s side.
Debuts were handed to the likes of Brereton Diaz, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Yukinari Sugawara and Flynn Downes, however one player in particular played an impeccable performance, despite being unable to take advantage of a winnable game against 10 men.
Yukinari Sugawara impresses in his Southampton debut
After a fairly successful individual performance, many Southampton fans noticed the efforts put in by Sugawara on his Southampton and Premier League debut, and his offensive efforts when bombing down the right-flank.
One fan took to X and said that Sugawara looked ‘sharp for his debut’, whilst another suggested that ‘Sugawara is absolutely unbelievable’.
Others went as far to believe, despite only playing one game, that ‘Sugawara might be the steal of the transfer window’, and that he was ‘the find of the window’, and this was echoed amongst the rest of the Southampton fans, who were able to pick out plenty positives in the player’s performance, despite the result.
Whilst he was brilliant in showing his athleticism, another fan expressed his delight at Sugawara’s ‘strength’, and the view that he was the ‘best player on the pitch in the first half’.
Yukinari Sugawara has already proven to be a coup for Southampton in one half of football
After today’s performance, Sugawara has clearly proven to be a masterstroke signing for Martin’s side, and he has certainly calmed any uncertainty from fans of whether he was up to Premier League standard or not.
He managed to play an incredible part down his side, especially on the offensive side, as he constantly provided a necessary threat down that side and caused trouble for Newcastle United full-back Lewis Hall on the right flank.
Whilst the Saints’ job was made slightly easier on the offensive side following the red card given to Schar, the full-back was causing trouble even before the opposition went down to 10 men, and his crossing ability was showcased to be excellent.
There are so many positives to build on for Sugawara, despite the result and his early questionable substitution, and if he is able to build on what was such a successful performance, there is so much for Southampton fans to be excited about with this new signing.