Russell Martin is yet to find the winning formula for Southampton in the Premier League.
Southampton head into the second international break of the campaign 19th in the Premier League with just one point from seven games.
Wolves are the only side to make a worse start than Russell Martin‘s side and the Saints manager is starting to come under pressure.
Ultimately, it is always the manager that suffers the consequences, but Martin has not been helped by a number of underperforming players and the 14 signings the club welcomed in the summer have also had mixed fortunes.
Jo Tessem blasts Southampton signing Ben Brereton Diaz
One signing who has struggled is Ben Brereton Diaz.
Southampton saw enough from the Chile international’s six month loan at relegated Sheffield United last season to convince them to pay Villarreal £7 million to bring him to St Mary’s.
However, after starting the first four league games of the season, Brereton Diaz dropped out of the starting XI for the draw with Ipswich Town and has been out the side every match since.
- READ MORE: Chris Sutton questions two Southampton summer signings after worrying start to the season
Speaking on their BBC Sounds show Goin’ Home with Adam and Jo after the 3-1 defeat against Arsenal, Adam Blackmore and former Saints midfielder Jo Tessem discussed Martin’s left wing options when Tessem gave a scathing assessment of Brereton Diaz.
Blackmore started by saying: “Brereton Diaz is out the picture.”
To which Tessem responded: “For me, Brereton Diaz is not a left winger, he hasn’t produced anything so far.”
Blackmore then said: “But he is a left winger, that’s the thing, so what happens to him now?”
Tessem answered: “Well, from what I have seen from him he’s not a left winger. He can’t play there…I don’t think he can play there, I don’t think it is his best position.
“What he has contributed so far is nothing and when you have played that many games if you have not contributed anything then, are you then a left winger? In my eyes, no.”
Brereton Diaz must prove Tessem wrong
Whilst Tessem’s verdict may seem a little harsh, he is not wrong to claim that Brereton Diaz is yet to offer anything since signing.
One of the things that made Brereton Diaz attractive to Southampton this summer is his ability to play wide or as a centre-forward, but so far he has failed to make an impact in either position.
To add to his woes, Brereton Diaz was not selected to represent Chile in the international break, but this does give him an opportunity to impress Martin in training.
Next up for Southampton is a huge game against Leicester City and Brereton Diaz should be eyeing this as a chance to start proving his doubters wrong.