Shea Charles had a great start to his Saints career last season, but then found his opportunities limited in the starting line up, leading Russell Martin to send him out on loan, but his success at Hillsborough could lead to a recall to St Mary's In January.

As the72.co.uk are reporting Shea Charles has made a fantastic start to his season long loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday, starting in all 6 matches since joining and scoring the last minute winner last time out at Coventry City.

Ex Saints assistant boss Danny Rohl now manager at Hillsborough has already spoken highly about the player who will not turn 21 until next month.

However his great form for the Owls has already had the media in Sheffield worried that Southampton will recall him in January and Danny Rohl is already worried that his time in Yorkshire may be cut short in January.

“Hopefully we can keep him the whole season – you never know what happens if he performs in this direction.”

Last season Charles started 15 games in the Championship for Saints and another 17 off the bench and to be fair never let Russell Martin down, indeed his ability to play in either central midfield or in the centre of defence came in handy more than one.

However many forgot that he was only 19 when he started the season and lacked experience having made just one sub appearance for his previous club Manchester City.

Russell Martin seemed to feel the same way, that he needed more experience and after featuring in all but 4 of the first 33 Championship games, he found himself rarely getting off the bench with Joe Rothwell, Joe Aribo and Will Smallbone all ahead of him in the pecking order to partner Flynn Downes.

But it seems Russell Martin was missing a trick, as Charles has flourished in the Championship for Sheffield Wednesday and shown just what he can do, this has lead to the speculation that the Owls wont be able to keep him for the whole season and he will be recalled in January.

Whether that will be the case won't be known for another 3 months but as it stands at the moment, we lack a player with the energy, strength and pace in both the centre of midfield and indeed the centre of defence, that Charles showed at times last season and is already doing so at Sheffield Wednesday.

In the next 3 months he will hopefully get not only experience under his belt, but also the confidence that is needed to become a great player, he has all the attributes to be just that, but will it be too late for Saints by January to benefit from it.

Photo: Action Images

onetowatch added 09:58 - Oct 9 I'm honestly not stating this in hindsight, as several postings last season would prove, but I really believe we missed an opportunity with SC. The combination of his physicality plus calm on the ball and distribution are such assets. I couldn't understand why he and FD were not given the chance to build a great CM partnership........maybe it could still happen...
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highfield49 added 14:21 - Oct 9 I can't help thinking of a few candidates we could send to Sheffield as a replacement.
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PaleRider added 14:42 - Oct 9 Do they need new owners and/or a new manager?
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Colburn added 17:04 - Oct 9 I’m a big fan of Shea and was pretty surprised when I heard he was going on loan to Wednesday. The game he really came of age was the league match at the Hawthorns. We won 2-0 because he dominated the middle of the park with strength and grace. I would not be at all surprised if we brought him back in Jan. Not sure atm why we bought Wood and Edwards when Shea could have been back up in CD too. He definitely has a big future and I hope we keep him long term.

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