Southampton fans have been wondering why several of the squad have not appeared in any of the pre season fixtures so far, now Russell Martin has finally clarified the situation.

One of the big questions on Saints supporters lips and keyboards aside from why the hell have we not yet signed a goalkeeper, is why the likes of Kyle Walker Peters, Armen Bella-Kotchap & Tall Paul Onuachu have not yet had any game time in the pre season programme.

However they have featured in training, sparking rumours of a rift in the squad.

Now speaking to The Daily Echo Russell Martin has been confirming where the situation stands.

Martin has outlined that although they would prefer to get certain players off loaded before they bring anyone else in, that this is essentially to keep the cash flow within budget going forward and that if a time sensitive deal was on the cards, they would be in a position to go through with it.

Asked by the Daily Echo if Walker-Peters and co will feature while their futures are still uncertain, Martin admitted he expects to have a conversation with the players in the coming days.

He said:

"It's just really difficult for some players to have a lot of speculation and then to really concentrate.

"You know, people don't want to get injured. No one is refusing to play, but I think it's a conversation we've had.

"But to be honest, the longer it goes and the closer we get to the season, they are going to have a choice to make because they can help us on the pitch. I'm sure that conversation will happen in the next few days."

So it seems that there is no discord within the squad, but certain players, are close to a move and therefore the player and indeed the club would prefer not to risk injury by playing games.

Last season Kyle Walker-Peters was in a similar situation with speculation rife about his future, but he did still play in pre season, yet this season he hasn't which seems a little strange, however a few weeks ago it looked nailed on he would go to West Ham.

He stayed and played a major part in our season, most would be happy for him to sign a new deal and continue where he left off, perhaps he still will, but he appears to be waiting to see if another club comes in for him, as it seems at the moment the Hammers have cooled their interest and are looking elsewhere.

In the case of Tall Paul and Bella-Kotchap, it seems that the club are keen to move both on and indeed negotiations are in progress at the moment, but Saints are not snatching at derisory offers, perhaps confirming that in the short term they do not need to sell before they buy, to answer the confirms of some supporters.

To see KWP leave would be a blow, but the only thing sure in football is that a player will one day play his last game for a club, the only variable is when that happens, so if a football club is to prosper it is all about not hanging on to players, it is about moving them on at the right time and optimum transfer fee, then re investing it and repeating the process.

Photo: Action Images

WestSussexSaint added 13:13 - Aug 9 This is a non story. Every club will have players that don’t feature in their future plans and won’t play to protect the market value (against injury) and to enable those players who are in the plans to maximise game time in preseason. Certainly Tall Pall and ABK fall into this group and while the club are more on the fence about KWP staying or going they and the player certainly don’t want to risk injury when there is potential deals to be made.

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halftimeorange added 14:31 - Aug 9 It seems to me that the ones who won't play for us are those on our shortlist e.g., O'Riley, Carvalho, Ramsdale and Jack Clarke and any number of wingers, including Ryan Fraser. Are Saints really that cash-strapped? If we did get those aforenamed we'd surely have a real chance of survival next season but, as things are, we're on the road to humiliation and relegation. Russell Martin must know this, as will the board but, why invest so much last season to go up and then watch that success fizzle out? There has to be some movement in and out within the next few days for us to have any chance.

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JoeEgg added 15:35 - Aug 9 Perfectly put halftimeorange. Now we are told that Saints dont have the money for these extra and much needed signings! We may have the numbers but we do not have the quality.
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A1079 added 16:16 - Aug 9 Perfectly put halftimeorange. Red and white stripes don't have a good record in the PL of late and it looks like we may continue that trend into next season.
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redwight added 02:04 - Aug 10 I may have missed it, but I don't recall any information appearing here regarding the position with Ross Stewart. Is he still injured? Is he likely to recover? Is he part of our future or not?
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redwight added 02:04 - Aug 10 I may have missed it, but I don't recall any information appearing here regarding the position with Ross Stewart. Is he still injured? Is he likely to recover? Is he part of our future or not?
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