Reports in Birmingham suggest that Aston Villa would be glad to see the back of loanee from Southampton Jan Bednarek and that he could be returning to St Mary's in January, but the question is whether Saints would want him back.

Jan Bednarek left for Aston Villa with his bridges at Saints not exactly burning, but certainly smouldering, he had clearly fallen out with people at the club and his comments in the press clearly rankled with some within the club and also Saints supporters.

But the usual rhetoric spouted by players when they leave clubs was riddled with something a little more than just wanting to play for a bigger club etc, although he did include comments along those lines and clearly had no affection left or even respect for the club that had helped him become a Premier League and International player.

He went to Villa Park expecting to set the place alight, but all of his words have rung hollow, and 4 months on all he has managed to play in a Villa shirt has been two appearances, the first a 41 minute appearance from the bench, the second his one and only start, but even then he was hauled off at half time.

Indeed he has played more time for Saints this season before he left for Villa Park, his 90 minutes on the opening day at Tottenham Hotspur itself was more minutes than he has managed at Villa, but add to that 70 minutes against Leeds and then another full 90m against Cambridge in the Carabao Cup and he has played well over twice the game time for his parent club.

The sacking of Steven Gerrard didn't help his cause, but Gerrard hardly played him and new manager Unai Emery doesn't seem to see him as part of his plans even as a stop gap and is said to be happy for him to return to Saints.

But the question is whether Saints would want him back, his comments when he left were not well received either by the supporters or indeed within the club itself.

Nathan Jones obviously has no history with Bednarek, so from that perspective it could be seen as bringing back into the squad an experienced player to bolster a defence that at the moment is all at sea.

So the option is there for Saints to bring him back to St Mary's and the reports from the Midland's suggest that Nathan Jones is discussing that with those within the club, before they make a decision.

Due to the players comments on going out on loan, this will not be seen as straightforward, he was said to be a disruptive influence both in pre season and in the early weeks of the Premier League season and to have forced the move, there are those at St Mary's who might not welcome him back.

But what has not been touched on is whether Bednarek himself would want to return, certainly it seems a better option than staying at Villa and at best be an unused sub for the rest of the season, as has been the case since arriving at Villa Park.

But given his thoughts on Saints back in August, Bednarek although wanting his loan period to be cut short, might well do so in order to perhaps furnish another loan deal elsewhere for the rest of the season.

So from this perspective would Saints actually want to agree to the loan being cancelled, after all they are getting his wages covered for the rest of the season, why risk bringing a prodigal son home and if he fails to get a loan agreement elsewhere, then being stuck with paying a player who is not featuring.

I suspect that the players agent is not working overtime in trying to find someone who will take him on loan, but that won't be easy, Bednarek's star is far lower than it was either back in August or over the past few years, he will be seen as damaged goods and he may well find it difficult to find another club who will take the risk, at least in the Premier League.

Would You Welcome Jan Bednarek Back In January, vote now in our online poll, using the link below.

https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/forum/292842/would-you-welcom

Photo: Action Images

JGH added 09:55 - Dec 29 Ironic that you have been (rightly) critical of fans singling out individual players for constant negativity when you have this bizarre obsession with hammering Bednarek at every opportunity. Let it go mate.
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landsdownsaint added 10:31 - Dec 29 How does get his head on the ball on corners both ends
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wessexman added 10:39 - Dec 29 Bednarek will put his body on the line. A lot more than you can say of a lot of our squad. Would I have him back? Yes, and for the sole reason of his experience and his attitude. But, isn't it indicative of the state we are in.... And, as a "bedwetter", I and many more of us warned against this. We are now doing a Sunderland.....letting things drift and hoping there are 3 worse teams and trying to cut corners. Of course it was going to end badly. IF there is no striker ready to come in for the Forrest game.....we'll know.

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Ifonly added 11:31 - Dec 29 If this story is true it's an absolute joke. Apart from anything else it says that NJ has looked at the current 4 CBs and doesn't like them. It says that he isn't interested in developing youngsters (the reason he was supposedly recruited in the first place) and it says that relegation is even more probable than it was before. JB is not the answer. Better to concentrate on new players in positions where we need them more and work with Salisu and Bella K as long term answers. They both have the potential. OK we might be relegated but, as I've said before, that will probably happen anyway regardless of what we do with the CBs. Bringing in an Aston Villa reserve isn't going to change anything. Our CB partnership weas our weakest point when he was playing for us. Why would it be any different this time?

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JoeEgg added 12:13 - Dec 29 Good comments guys! Keep them coming. Having Bednarek back might mean we could play six across the back or even seven? Ward-Prowse could play a sole midfield role while Adams scores the goals. Better stick to just ONE goalie for the time being, and we still have one spare place to fill on the park. While we are about it can we have Ings, Boufal and Romeo back please?!!!!

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darthvader added 14:40 - Dec 29 Can we get Shane Long and Redmond too please, oh and Tadic
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BESaint added 17:24 - Dec 29 Well, he did get 4 goals last season, as opposed to Adam Armstrong who got 2. I would be very happy to get Bednarek, Tella, and Stephens back. Stephens would step up I feel sure, remember him and Yoshida after we lost Fonte and Van Dijk.... ok, I'm just hoping, clutching at straws because it isn't looking too good at the moment, but I don't need to tell any of you that.

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NewburySaint added 20:07 - Dec 29 Absolutely not unless we can get rid of him on loan elsewhere. We currently have 4 better & more committed Centre halfs than what Bednarek can now offer us.
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underweststand added 12:25 - Dec 31 Few can blame Bednarek for wanting regular football in the run-up to a World Cup, but unfortunately it didn't work out either with Saints or Villa. He was rarely Mr. Dependable but as Wessexman noted (above) Jan would often put his body on the line, but was often the villian of the piece with alack of pace and the unfortunate tendency to score own-goals at vital moments. Would I take him back ?. YES !...as we don't know what might happen in 2023 and a proven player who knows the club might be an advantage if the worst comes ...

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