Saints have had a boost before the clash with West Bromwich Albion with the news that Nathan Redmond has returned to full time training, good news ahead of a game which could either see us moving up the table or looking over our shoulders.

The news that Nathan Redmond is back in training has to be positive for Ralph Hasenhuttl as he prepares his squad for the visit of West Brom to St Mary's, the winger has missed the last two games through injury and Saints have missed his flair.

Redmond divides opinions among some Saints supporters, but the truth is he is a player that does have an end product, who can beat his man and create chances and he also has to ability to chip in a goal or two.

It will leave Ralph with a dilemma and he will have to decide whether to drop either Stuart Armstrong or Moussa Djenepo, that may mean that he will err on the side of caution and hold Redmond back on the bench to not only make sure he doesn't come back from injury too soon, but to give him the option of bringing him on later in the game to run at tiring legs.

Photo: Action Images

IanRC added 09:54 - Oct 1 Djenepo has played well since coming in, I would be inclined to keep him in with Redmond on the bench.
2

NewburySaint added 10:13 - Oct 1 Is that news a boost? You say he creates chances & chips in with a goal or 2, I say he doesn’t create or score enough, but then if he did create, assist & score more he wouldn’t be with us anymore.
7

Sanguin added 10:19 - Oct 1 We're a better team with Redmond. He gets a lot undeserved hate, but look at his stats. He has the fourth highest expected goals per game behind Ings, Adams and Ward-Prowse. His xG per game is 0.14 compared to Djnepo's 0.05 and Redmond averages 2 shots per game compared to Djnepo's 1.5.
1

davidargyll added 10:48 - Oct 1 On the basis of last weekend’s performance Moussa deserves a game on the bench, no question, as WBA cannot be less of a proposition than Burnley. A scrappy match I predict so let’s have some tough scrappers on the pitch: MD is not a scrapper..,
1

theralpholution added 11:07 - Oct 1 Opinion is not 'truth' and for an attacking winger Redmond produces very little end product if by end product we mean goals and assists. Look on any fantasy league and his price is low for this reason and has been for seasons. In terms of work rate and ability he could be seen as a good player but for the position he plays I don't think it's enough. Though he had potential as a young player he is now 26 and should be regularly scoring and assisting, not popping in the odd goal. He is very rigid in his positioning, either clinging to the line or predictably cutting inside and though he seems to worry other teams with pace and can cause panic, his shooting is woeful, regularly over the bar. Statistics favourably comparing his goals per game with Djenepo are probably counting Djenepo's substitute appearances and I would be more interested in seeing goals per minute and goals per shot statistics. For me he has not lived up to potential and though a good squad player should not have a guaranteed place but should earn it with a few more goals and assists.

7

I_would added 11:54 - Oct 1 He's another "Undroppable One".
4

highfield49 added 12:54 - Oct 1 Moussa is potentially a bit of a liability, he increasingly looks like one tackle away from a red card. Redmond, for me, every time at present.
1

zonehead added 17:27 - Oct 1 Him and Bertie dominate the left wing a good partnership
1

Scoot added 18:10 - Oct 1 MD needs a run of games to make a fair comparison. I'd start with MD and bring NR on to ease him back.
1

Saintaxidriver added 10:18 - Oct 2 Has periods where he is good but so far this season has looked short of confidence constantly coming back to half way and passing back rather than taking the opposition on. Maybe this is Ralphs instructions but it is very frustrating to watch. Dnepro did little against Burnley so would bring Redmond back in and tell him to run at them every time he has the ball.
1

SanMarco added 23:18 - Oct 3 On form he is an asset as he showed post-lockdown but he has the habit of going missing. I have known several games when it got to half an hour and I suddenly noticed he was playing (Palace on day one this season is a good example). It is a boost because the manager needs options. I would start with Djnepo and have NR on the bench.
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Middlesbrough Polls