Newcastle clash is time for Southampton’s periphery to step-up

There were marked undertones in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s words at Wednesday’s press conference.

It was the middle of the week and over 48 hours out from Southampton’s next match against Newcastle. It was supposed to be one of those fleeting cerebral periods in which a manager, especially one with the velocity and vigour of Hasenhuttl, can switch off.

But there was an intensity within the way the Austrian spoke. A certain hurried, forceful nature to it. His team may sit fifth in the league and can go temporarily top with a win against Newcastle, but the mood was hardly one of joyous optimism.

Make no mistake, Hasenhuttl’s is satisfied with Saints’ start to the season, describing recent performances as “fantastic.” But as evidence has shown in the last few months, he’s not the type to get carried away. Particularly when injuries to key men are briskly mounting up.

Throughout his 35 minute press conference, Hasenhuttl continued to pose a series of challenges to those who were on the outside looking in.

The game against Newcastle offers a glimpse into the men on Southampton’s second line. Hasenhuttl relishes competition and views it as a significant driver in stimulating the players who hold starting berths. Just like himself, he never wants his team to let complacency fester or egos to grow outside of their limits.

But as Hasenhuttl essentially admitted, there is a chasm in ability and system understanding between Southampton’s consensus first 11 and this season’s peripheral figures.

With Danny Ings set to miss over a month after experiencing swelling on his knee after undergoing a light jogging session at Staplewood on Tuesday, it gives Michael Obafemi, Shane Long and Nathan Redmond an opportunity to force their way in.

But replacing one of the Premier League’s best strikers is an unenviable task. Hasenhuttl said: “We have quite a few strikers waiting for their chance – Longy, Michael (Obafemi), Dan N’Lundulu. We have a few guys fighting for the position beside Ché Adams.

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“Training is one thing, the game is another thing. Who gets the chance on Friday to play should know this is a big chance and grab it, because we now have four to six weeks without Danny, so in the front we need somebody who gives us alternatives.

“It might not be possible for someone else to play like Danny Ings at the moment but it’s also not necessary. Any player needs to come on and play his best game and then we get him in a position where he showcase his strength on the pitch.”

However, it is expected that Theo Walcott will move up top to partner Che Adams, with either Redmond or Moussa Djenepo taking the number 10 position within Hasenhuttl’s 4-2-2-2.

Selection in defence is less clear cut though. With Ryan Bertrand (low grade hamstring tear) and Jan Bednarek (concussion) both taken off along with Ings in Saints’ hostile victory over Aston Villa last time out, Hasenhuttl faces a spate of dilemma’s.

Aside from Jannik Vestergaard’s mercurial form making him a dead-cert in the heart of defence, the other three positions are problematic. Usual right-back Kyle Walker-Peters will also feature but it remains unseen as to what position yet. Bertrand natural stand-in Jake Vokins is also injured, meaning Saints will have no out-an-out left-back for the clash against the Magpies.

Hasenhuttl said:”The issue is when you don’t perform how you can. We need a player in good form, not talent at the moment as we have lots of good talent. Then we will adapt the game to show his strengths.”

“To be honest in the left back position I have a bigger issue because Jake Vokins is injured so I have more to think about what to do there as my normal left backs are out.

“It’s a new situation and we must make the right decisions like always in football things can change so quickly.”

From his time at Tottenham, Walker-Peters has shown he has the ability to perform effectively from left-back, but will have some of his attacking strengths nullified by playing on the opposing flank. If Walker-Peters was to make the switch across, it would likely mean Yan Valery will play at right-back.

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Following a bright start, the Frenchman’s form since the beginning of last season has been patchy to say the least, with consistency and confidence woes an ample cause for concern. It doesn’t help either that the last time Newcastle visited St Mary’s, Valery made a game-deciding error for Allan Saint-Maximin’s second-half strike, turning out to be the only goal of the game.

If Hasenhuttl is understandably reluctant to use the 21-year-old, he may opt for his trusted lieutenant James Ward-Prowse to fill in. The Southampton skipper is a model professional and has displayed a natural capability of playing anywhere that is required for the team and at a more than respectable level, too.

But Ward-Prowse’s move to full-back would unquestionably reduce Saints’ tackling midfield bite, losing one of their key figures in provoking transitional turnovers – a key staple to their recent success.

Jack Stephens could play right-back but will likely partner Vestergaard, with Bednarek being ruled out and summer signing Mohammed Salisu still not deemed fit enough or having had the requisite education to play in a Hasenhuttl team.

Ibrahima Diallo suffered a dead leg against Aston Villa and asking him to make his first start against Newcastle while not being fully fit could be seen as precarious. Other central midfield candidate that Will Smallbone has just returned to training and is out for the game.

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When the side regains its full bill of health, it tends to be pretty straight-forward in selecting Southampton’s starting line-up. Perhaps there is a debate to be had in some positions – the Walcott versus Redmond discussion is bubbling nicely – but most of the time, supporters and more pertinently Hasenhuttl, can rely on his starters to get the job done.

In a truncated, unremitting Premier League season, injuries were always bound to happen. For those who have been waiting on the sidelines, now is the time to step-up and step away from the periphery. They’ve been standing in the cold long enough.

If they are able to match the intensity in which Hasenhuttl spoke on Wednesday against Newcastle, they surely will be halfway there.

“I’m neither happy or comfortable with what we are doing. We have to learn that in our situation it’s good to keep both feet on the ground,” Hasenhuttl concluded.

This writer will be at Southampton versus Newcastle (8pm/20:00 GMT kick-off)