Russell Martin may have to make some difficult decisions to turn around Southampton’s poor start to the season.
Southampton have lost all three of their Premier League matches so far this season, only scoring one goal in the process.
Russell Martin has seen his style of play written off already by numerous pundits and will be determined to prove he can be a success with Southampton in his first taste of Premier League management.
Up until this point, Martin has largely placed his faith in the players that got Southampton promoted last season, with only two new faces starting the 1-0 defeats against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.
There was a third in the 3-1 defeat to Brentford as Deadline Day signing Aaron Ramsdale came into the side, but with 14 summer signings perhaps more would have been expected.
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Russell Martin should drop Adam Armstrong from Southampton XI vs Man Utd
Martin hinted after the disappointing result at Brentford that the time for sentimentality was over and hinted that we will now see changes for Southampton’s clash with Manchester United this weekend.
The Saints have been very blunt in attack since their Premier League return, with last season’s top goalscorer Adam Armstrong struggling in front of goal.
In December of last year Martin described Armstrong as “incredible”, saying: “He has been incredible. As a person first, and with the goals as well. He is brave and aggressive. He is just like a warrior.”
Armstrong scored 24 goals in the Championship last season, as well as providing 13 assists, but there were doubts about his ability to score in the top flight having done so just four times across two seasons before Southampton were relegated in 2023.
Armstrong’s form at the start of this season has done little to alleviate those concerns, with a glaring miss with the goal at his mercy against Brentford one that stands out.
With Manchester United coming to St Mary’s on Saturday, Southampton will have to be at their best to pick up their first positive result of the league season and this may see Martin replace Armstrong in the starting XI.
Who could replace Armstrong in Southampton line-up vs Man Utd?
Martin has seen his side win once this season, as a completely changed line-up beat Cardiff City 5-3 in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
Whilst it is difficult to read too much into that result given Cardiff also made numerous changes, a number of players did impress in South Wales.
Summer signing Mateus Fernandes scored on his first start and could be handed his full Premier League debut in midfield against Manchester United.
In terms of replacements for Armstrong, 18-year-old Sam Amo-Ameyaw is an option to play as a more conventional right winger with Martin expected to change shape from a 3-5-2 to last season’s 4-3-3 against United.
The arrivals of Ryan Fraser and Maxwel Cornet on Transfer Deadline Day have given Martin more attacking depth and Cornet also could come in to provide a spark against United.
Amo-Ameyaw’s fellow 18-year-old Tyler Dibling could be pushed to the right wing after impressing so far this season coming off the bench in an attacking midfield position.
With that in mind, Martin is not short of replacements for Armstrong and now feels like the perfect time to take the 27-year-old out of the side to give another player an opportunity.