Russell Martin has a number of underperforming players at Southampton as he looks to turn around a poor start to the season.
Southampton are 19th in the Premier League on just one point courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town.
Russell Martin has watched on as his team have conceded 15 goals in seven league matches and scored just four of their own in what has been a worrying start.
14 first-team players arrived at Southampton in the summer to help with the Premier League survival bid and so far they have had vastly different levels of success.
Southampton signing Ben Brereton Diaz Premier League’s ninth worst signing
Whilst the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Yukinari Sugawara and Mateus Fernandes have shown real promise, Ryan Fraser, Maxwel Cornet and Lesley Ugochukwu have all struggled so far.
Martin knew that one of the key areas that needed addressing in the summer was up front and he signed Ben Brereton Diaz and Cameron Archer to help with this.
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Both players were relegated with Sheffield United last season and Brereton Diaz has been incredibly poor since arriving at St Mary’s.
That has led to Italian website Tutto Mercato Web ranking the Chilean as the ninth worst Premier League purchase of the summer; one place behind former Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse.
Brereton Diaz needs to regain confidence at Southampton
Southampton paid Villarreal around £7 million to sign Brereton Diaz in the summer after he scored six goals in 14 Premier League games on loan at Sheffield United for the second half of last season.
Saints fans got a first glimpse of the forward in the pre-season friendly against Lazio in the summer where he looked sharp and scored, but that has so far been as good as it has got for Brereton Diaz.
Having started the first four league matches of the season, Brereton Diaz has not started the last three and looks to have slipped alarmingly low down the pecking order.
The player and Martin must work hard to get his confidence back if he is to make a telling contribution to the survival efforts this season.