Russell Martin has praised the impact of a player who he feels makes Southampton a ‘better’ team.
The Southampton squad are currently in Spain where they are undergoing an intense week of warm weather training as well as playing two friendlies.
The first of these friendlies has now taken place, with Southampton 3-2 victors over Bordeaux on Wednesday thanks to goals from Tyler Dibling, Sam Amo-Ameyaw and Sekou Mara.
Having beat Eastleigh 7-1 on Friday, Russell Martin‘s side now boast two wins from two games this summer and the Saints boss will hope they can continue that against another French opponent in Montpellier on Saturday.
The ten outfield players who started against Bordeaux played 60 minutes before being replaced by a new ten and it was one of those players coming on that Martin reserved special praise for after the game.
Russell Martin hails Will Smallbone after Southampton friendly win
Given Bordeaux are soon to be a third tier side in France due to financial problems, it was widely expected pre-game that Martin would play a more youthful side on Wednesday.
That is exactly what materialised, with the teenage trio of Dibling, Amo-Ameyaw and Jay Robinson all starting.
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Montpellier are a Ligue 1 side and Southampton will no doubt play a team that resembles the first-team more closely on Saturday.
That should include a midfield trio that Martin felt changed the game once they came on against Bordeaux.
Speaking after the game, Martin said: “We had a group of guys coming on that did so well for us last season.”
He went on to point out the midfielders, with particular praise for Will Smallbone, by saying: “Will Smallbone is a top performer, he makes the team better as he’s a selfless runner. The lads like him.
“Flynn Downes and Joe Aribo made a big difference to the game.
“When you have those three guys in midfield to help you dominate and to be aggressive, the team’s aggression went up a notch. Really pleased with them.”
Smallbone a firm favourite for Martin at Southampton
Smallbone’s Southampton career was very much in the balance when Martin arrived last summer.
Whilst Southampton were enduring a season in which they would finish bottom of the Premier League in 2022/23, Smallbone enjoyed a decent loan spell in the Championship with Stoke City.
It is not unreasonable to suggest that, had Southampton not been relegated, Smallbone’s time at his boyhood club could have been even over.
However, he quickly became a favourite of Martin’s, with his intelligence and willingness to take the ball at all times aligning with the manager’s ideology.
Smallbone scored seven goals and provided four assists in the Championship last season, including scoring the opener in the play-off semi final win over West Brom and playing the pass through to Armstrong to score the only goal in the final.
Now, the 24-year-old will have the chance to be a regular in the Premier League under a manager who could not be more appreciative of his qualities.