When Southampton fans travel to Cardiff on Wednesday night for the Carabao Cup encounter, they may be seeing a historical moment as Adam Lallana makes his second debut for the team.
Prior to Saints’ match against Cardiff City, Russell Martin has been speaking with the media. It appears that while the team will be different from the one that lost to Nottingham Forest, it will still include some well-known players and new additions.
Russell Martin has the following to say about his team ahead of their Wednesday night trip to Wales, as reported on southamptonfc.com.
“Hopefully, we’ll see Ross Stewart playing in the coming weeks as he has resumed full training and rejoined the squad, along with Adam Lallana.
“Kamaldeen has returned. We’ll have to wait and see what happens and how he reacts in training. But we’re close to having a full clean bill of health.
Elsewhere the trip to Wales sees an opportunity for new signings Lesley Ugochukwu and Mateus Fernandes to gain valuable minutes.
“He needs to be the guy,” said Martin on Ugochukwu. “He needs to be the king in the middle of the pitch. It will be great for him to be on the pitch rather than just at training being pushed around and told where to go.
“Matty Fernandes is a top talent, clubs all over Europe were looking at him. I think you saw a bit on Saturday of what he can bring.”
So Saints supporters could well see another debut for the club in “Big Les” and that will be the one everyone will be looking at, can he be the man to step into the centre of the park and boss it.
We lacked that against Forest and although some complained about the inability of Joe Aribo & Will Smallbone to step into the gap when we were in attacking mode , that had a lot to do with the defensive duties they both had to perform, as the visitors pressed forward.
With Ugochukwu in the middle of the park that may well allow us to employ a more attacking central midfielder.
Martin also had a few words for Tyler Dibling, a player that looked impressive in his cameo role on Saturday.
“Tyler Dibling is very close and probably unlucky not to be playing in the team after his pre-season,”
“He’s had two appearances off the bench and did really, really well on Saturday. Just that last little end product, which he’s 18, that will come.
“He needs to play well tomorrow night and put himself even more in the frame for the team because he’s been really, really impressive.”
Elsewhere the trip to Wales sees an opportunity for new signings Lesley Ugochukwu and Mateus Fernandes to gain valuable minutes.
“He needs to be the guy,” said Martin on Ugochukwu. “He needs to be the king in the middle of the pitch. It will be great for him to be on the pitch rather than just at training being pushed around and told where to go.
“Matty Fernandes is a top talent, clubs all over Europe were looking at him. I think you saw a bit on Saturday of what he can bring.”
Kamari Doyle thought his grass would be greener at Brighton, but he is currently mowing the lawn on loan at Exeter City, where he has so far come on as a sub in his two games for the Devon side. So, although it is very likely that wholesale changes will be made on Wednesday evening, unlike last year at Gillingham where it was very much a collection of disgruntled players who pulled on the shirt in what was an embarrassing League Cup exit. In fact, six of the eleven in the starting line up that night have left the club permanently already, and Tall Paul Onuachu will probably join him.
