Russell Martin has conveyed a message to Mason Holgate and Jack Stephens regarding their roles at Southampton, particularly in light of Jan Bednarek’s current performance.
This summer, Southampton secured Mason Holgate from Everton on a season-long loan. However, he has featured in only three Championship games for Russell Martin’s squad. Martin has expressed his expectation that Holgate and Stephens, who are both center-backs, will apply pressure on the other defenders within the team to earn a spot.
Holgate’s start at Southampton has been challenging; he made his debut in a 5-0 loss to Sunderland and was substituted at half-time during his second start, a 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough. The team’s other central defenders include the injured captain Jack Stephens, along with the current first-choice duo of Jan Bednarek and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, the latter of whom has been cleared to be in the squad for the upcoming match against Hull City after a minor injury setback.
Russell Martin mentioned that Bednarek and Harwood-Bellis are working well together and learning from each other’s games. However, he emphasized that Holgate and Stephens, when the captain returns from injury, need to compete for their positions since Bednarek and Harwood-Bellis are currently holding those spots.
Martin pointed out that all the defenders, even those not actively playing, participate in unit meetings where they analyze clips, provide feedback, and engage in discussions. He commended Bednarek’s recent growth in terms of training, performance, and ball-handling courage.
Given the upcoming series of games, Martin is well aware of the need for the entire squad’s contributions. He mentioned that he will need to carefully select the best starting XI for each match, considering the players’ energy levels and overall well-being. Martin’s immediate objective is to field a lineup that can secure their first home defeat of the season against Hull, followed by matches against Preston North End and Birmingham City.
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