Ralph Hasenhuttl has indicated that he is likely to stick with Jack Stephens ahead of the returning Yoshida for the visit of Cardiff.
Many thought that Maya Yoshida would be walking back into the Saints team for the visit of Cardiff City after Jack Stephens followed up disappointing game against Crystal Palace with the error that handed Burnley an injury time equaliser, but Ralph Hasnehuttl is not one to do things just for the sake of it and he is relatively happy with the defending since Yoshida has been away.
Ironically Yoshida's last game was the 0-0 draw at Chelsea and although that is the only clean sheet in Hasenhuttl's time at St Mary's it was the game that saw the most chances on Saints goal and it took some smart saves from Angus Gunn and a linesman's flag to keep the scores level.
In the games since although we have conceded a single goal in each game, we have been fairly tight at the back apart from the obligatory lapses such as on Saturday at Burnley.
Hasenhuttl spoke of his dilemma
"I have a problem now. Maya Yoshida is back and when he left the last game he played was a zero-zero against Chelsea, the only clean sheet since I’ve been here.
"It’s a good signal for the team if a player comes back and the team works very good that he’s not automatically back in the team. "
"Maya knows at the moment I don’t want to change the back five as Jack [Stephens] did a fantastic job last week so it’s normal he will play now. But I’m happy Maya’s back as you know."
A vote of confidence for Jack Stephens and that is Ralph Hasenhuttl's way of doing things, instilling confidence not destroying it, but there will be changes on against Cardiff, there has to be with Danny Ings injured, but it is likely the defence will stay the same but I am not sure that the keeper will.