Southampton winger Samuel Edozie has made the most of the drop down to the Championship after relegation from the Premier League last season.
He has started seven of Saints’ eleven Championship games this season, coming off the bench for another two, and has scored two goals.
Manager Russell Martin came in the summer and has done a decent job so far, but with Edozie particularly, it seems he can see the potential the 20-year-old has.
Edozie on ‘great relationship’ with Martin
Edozie spoke about his relationship with Martin, who he says has been ‘tough’ on him.
“We’ve got a great relationship,” Edozie told the club website. “He’s tough on me, but I think I need that. He wants the best for me, so he’s going to ask a lot from me.
“He’s very encouraging and shows he trusts me by playing me in most of the games this season, so I can’t complain and I’m willing to work for him.
“He’s on to me about mistakes because he doesn’t want me making them. The fewer mistakes in your game, the better player you’re going to become – that’s pretty obvious.
“A manager that’s going to be on to me with the small things, the small details, trying to get the best out of me, is definitely someone that I need.”
Martin brilliant at developing youngsters, Edozie will be one
Southampton have a lot of younger players, with most benefitting from Martin giving them game time.
This has also translated on the international stage recently, with goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu breaking records with the Republic of Ireland.
Whilst some have not, with Shea Charles being sent off for Northern Ireland, in a game which they ultimately lost.
Clearly Martin loves working with younger players like he did at Swansea, and Edozie clearly has plenty of room to develop.
He has in recent games been dropped for Kamaldeen Sulemana, so will have to improve to force Martin’s hand to be put back in the starting line-up.