Armel Bella-Kotchap has been speaking to the media in his native Germany about his exclusion by Russell Martin and his immediate future at St Mary's after the arrival of Ivan Juric as the new Saints manager.
The Daily Echo have been reporting on Bella-Kotchap's to the German media outlet Bild in which the players has spoken of intensive talks with Southampton's hierarchy and he has been assured that new manager Ivan Duric will give him the chance to rebuild his career at St Mary's.
Bella-Kotchap told Bild.
"I moved to PSV Eindhoven on loan after the relegation from Southampton in 2023.
"There I had an injury and never really got into the step. When I went back to England in the summer, the coach preferred to rely on the promotion team.
"He didn't like that I wanted to leave after the relegation but I wanted to take the next step at the time, which I thought was right.
"With these two views, we never really got together. I have been talking intensively with the club managers for the last two days.
"They assured me they care a lot about me and that I get my chance under the new coach. I know that I now first have to fight back into the team.
"I'm burning for that. But it is also important for me that I re-set the environment in my situation. I have to bring my performance, I can't influence more."
Saints supporters have long thought that Russell Martin had his favourites and also those that he would not play.
Bella-Kotchap added:
"I also want to make myself interesting again for the national team. I want to get to where I've been before as soon as possible.
"I like it here in England, I make no secret of it. I would like to assert myself in the Premier League. But I don't want to close doors either.
"My willingness to move to Hoffenheim has shown that I can imagine the Bundesliga very well. This continues to apply to my future."
Whilst the St Mary's faithful will not be impressed to read that the German International did not want to play in the Championship, he was far from being the only member of the squad who felt that way, some ended up staying and others went out either on a permanent basis or on loan and the likes of Tall Paul Onuachu for instance have returned and shown fight and he in particular has turned the supporters opinion around on him.
The player has also had interest from German club's before leaving for PSV in the summer of 2023, including Borrussia Dortmund & Bayern Munich, showing how well thought of he is in Germany.
That makes it even more frustrating that having returned to the club and shown willingness to play, that Russell Martin completely ignored him, whilst it is understandable that Martin should wish to give his promoted side a chance, it was clear from early on that the defence was a shambles and constantly getting caught out, a good football manager will use the players he has to hand, not show favouritism.
Given that Martin played him for 26 minutes at Cardiff, it was clear he was fit, but was ostracised by the manager for no real good reason other than he had gone out on loan, comparisons can be made to Jan Bednarek who at the start of 22/23 season went on loan to Aston Villa, but returned in the January and put in a shift ironically alongside Bella-Kotchap to try and save Saints from relegation, he showed that he could rebuild his reputation with Southampton supporters, so I see no reason that Bella-Kotchap should not be given the same chance.
Of course Bella-Kotchap has to put his career first and he has been open that he may yet move in the January transfer window, but as it stands he is ready and willing to play and hopefully Ivan Juric will give every player a a chance equally and do what is best for the club and play the best players and not have favourites.