Southampton have received disappointing injury news recently, with both Kamaldeen Sulemana and summer signing Ross Stewart suffering injuries that will see them out until the new year.
The good news is that Russell Martin sees his options boosted with a key dressing room figure returning to the squad against Watford this weekend, having not played since August.
That man is club captain Jack Stephens, who injured his calf in the 2-1 victory over QPR in the fourth league game of the campaign and had started every Championship game prior to sustaining the injury.
Despite being given the captaincy in the summer, Stephens is not guaranteed to come straight back into the side given how well Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jan Bednarek have performed in his absence. The Saints are on a run of 11 games unbeaten and have enjoyed consecutive clean sheets, so any player would struggle to force their way back into the side.
Southampton were completely dominant in their 2-0 victory over Cardiff City last time out with Stephens watching on, so he will know it will be no easy task to displace the current defensive partnership.
Russell Martin delighted with return of Jack Stephens
Martin confirmed the news that Stephens will make a return to the Southampton squad for the trip to Watford in his pre-game press conference yesterday and the ex-Swansea City boss will be delighted to see his defensive options bolstered ahead of a busy festive period.
Having announced the “really good news” that Stephens was back in the squad for the Watford game, Martin expressed how pleased he has been with the returning defender, saying: “I’ve been surprised by how good he’s looked, not in terms of his ability, but you expect a bit of rustiness and a bit of time to adapt and get back into it but he’s hit the ground running”.
Fortunately, due to the form of Harwood-Bellis and Bednarek, combined with the fact Mason Holgate had his best game for the Saints when deputising against West Brom recently, Martin has not had to rush back the 29-year-old and risk aggravating the injury.
This is despite Stephens desperation to get back involved, with Martin explaining to the press that: “He wanted to be back in the squad two weeks ago but had to be a bit patient. He’s putting big pressure on the guys in front of him who have played”.
Stephens will have to be patient
Stephens may be the club captain, but he will likely have to bide his time before making a start. Much of Southampton’s good run has been down to Martin finding consistency in terms of selection and he will not want to risk giving that up to shoehorn the returning skipper into the side.
Martin confirmed as much, explaining that: “Jack may have to wait a little bit for his opportunity but when it comes I am sure he will take it.”
Stephens is a leader and has been at the club for 12 years, so will want wants best for the club and also understand that his chance will come.
Adam Armstrong has deputised in Stephens’ absence and has been in inspired form, currently sitting on 12 goals and four assists in the league this season, but he is perhaps not your typical vocal captain. Stephens is that, and his presence in and around the dressing room will be vital this season.
Martin has stressed the impact of the return of the man who spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, saying: “He’s come back into training and added voice, added a huge amount of quality and he’s hungry to get back into the team”.
The good news for Stephens is that there are plenty of games to navigate over the next few weeks and he is sure to be handed an opportunity sooner or later. When that time comes he will be determined to take it with both hands, with Martin proving in his selections this season that if you perform well you keep the shirt.
Martin has also played with a back three at various stages of his short managerial career so far, so it is also not unthinkable that we will see a central defensive trio of Stephens, Harwood-Bellis and Bednarek at some stage.