Russell Martin will have spent the international break trying to find solutions to Southampton’s poor start to the Premier League season.
Southampton need to improve at both ends of the pitch, with five goals conceded and just one scored across three league defeats so far.
That sees Russell Martin‘s side 19th in the Premier League table, with Everton the only side also yet to register a point this campaign.
Next up for Southampton is a St Mary’s clash against Manchester United on Saturday and the home support will be hoping to see a much improved side following the international break.
Martin saw 14 first-team players signed this summer but it could be two players that were expected to leave whose reintegration could help Southampton turn their season around.
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Russell Martin should utilise forgotten Southampton duo Kamaldeen Sulemana and Armel Bella-Kotchap
Southampton managed to offload a number of players who were deemed to have no future at the club this summer, with the likes of Sekou Mara, Duje Caleta-Car and Romain Perraud all sold.
The club are still looking to secure a late exit for Paul Onuachu with the transfer window set to close in Turkey on September 13th, but Kamaldeen Sulemana and Armel Bella-Kotchap will remain at the club bar any unexpected late push.
Southampton thought they had sold both players this summer, with Sulemana’s loan-to-buy move to Ajax rejected by FIFA as it was deemed to be completed after the deadline and Bella-Kotchap’s £12.8 million move to Hoffenheim collapsing after an issue picked up in the medical.
Southampton clearly saw something in Sulemana to spend club-record fee to sign him in January 2023, whilst Bella-Kotchap is a Germany international who has had a wretched time with injuries.
If both players are to remain at the club this season then Martin may well be wise to use them, especially given Southampton’s troubles in both defence and attack.
Bella-Kotchap is Southampton’s best defender
The biggest problem with Sulemana is whether he will be bought in to what Southampton are trying to do this season.
The 22-year-old picked up an injury in pre-season that has seen him yet to feature this season but looked disinterested at times last season and his lightning pace and ability are let down by his lack of end product.
To add to that, the Ghanaian’s only two goals since January last year came in a 4-4 draw with Liverpool with the Saints already relegated in the 2022/23 campaign.
However, Sulemana had a spell in the team before picking up an injury last November where he looked really threatening and there is a school of thought that he is better suited to the Premier League rather than the Championship where he was continually brought down by his full-back.
Bella-Kotchap is a player who, if fit and properly reintegrated into the side, would immediately be Southampton’s best defender and elevate the backline massively.
There may be some concerns regarding his ability to play Martin’s possession style but as an out-and-out defender he is streets ahead of Martin’s other centre-back options.
Therefore, finding a way to get both Sulemana and Bella-Kotchap back into the mix could make a real difference to Southampton’s chances of staying up this season.