With the 5pm deadline looming the big question is whether Saints will bring a fresh face in.

With injuries to three midfield players in Schneiderlin, Lallana and Chamberlain being uncertain at time of writing, Saints supporters are wondering whether Nigel Adkins will bring in a fresh face, the blunt answer is even with these three out, he shouldnt need to or at least he shouldnt need to if he has faith in his own judgement.

Forte and to a lesser extent N'Guessan have not yet set the world alight in the two months they have been here, but in fairness they have rarely been given the opportunity to show what they can do and thats worrying.

We now sit with a squad with more than enough numbers but has become predictable, the same core is used in every game except for the usual one change and in the main the same people are substituted by the same people, at times you feel you can set your watch by Adkins substitutions, ie Barnard has just gone off so there must be 13 minutes to go.

If we are not careful we will pay the price for having a large part of the squad that is not just short of match practice, but is demotivated due to the fact they know they arent getting a fair crack of the whip in game time.

The stark reality is that we need to be making better use of the players we already have here rather than just bringing in faces for the sake of it who do not add anything we havent already got, this we did in January with the aquisition of N'Guessan and Forte and it had hindered us more than helped us.

Nigel Adkins needs to look at his squad and freshen it up from within

We are at the point where a fresh face would be good, not just because we need him but because we need to do something different and thats just not happening and their is no excuse for that given the size of the squad.

Maybe Nigel Adkins feels more comfortable just using a core of his squad, almost replicating the situation he was in at Scunthorpe    

Photo: Action Images

bstokesaint added 12:35 - Mar 24 Some good points Nick. There's nothing wrong with a small squad (as Mourinho prefers - albeit a larger transfer kitty), but I do feel for some fringe signings who played well at their respective clubs last season and now find themselves out in the cold. It's a little worrying that maybe Adkins doesn't have the faith in those players which he should. I would definitely say that if we are going to bring anyone in then they have to be a very good, proven player, preferably at a higher level, else there is no point. We don't want more bench warmers. There must be players around who would relish the challenge of a promotion push. Also do we have like for like cover in the team in the event we lose Barnard..? I really hope so.

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scotty added 12:52 - Mar 24 Its a bit late to start bringing new players in with 10 games to go imo. By the time they settle with the squad the season will be done and dusted. Unless of course, NA was interested in signing them anyway. Like nick said, n'guessan and forte havent had much of a chance to show what they can do so far. Nigel must habe had a reason for bringing them in.
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schatfield added 22:14 - Mar 24 we have signed someone now - Oldham midfielder Dale Stephen. I must admit, I dont know why Oldham let him go on loan, considered he has played most of their games this season, maybe he is out of contract this summer, or they want him off the wage bill. Odd. Anyway, he seems ok - I hope he actually plays though, I have to agree with Nick that Nige tends to play the same 11 bar the odd defender every single game regardless, so hope this isnt another waste.

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stmichael added 00:39 - Mar 25 I am staggered that the boy forte was signed and even more so on a 3 year deal. 3 years wages an he won't get a game. Antonio on the other hand was proven at this level but we would not take the plunge. I know who I would prefer at the club. Let's hope we go back for him as chamberlains replacement.
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Kiwifiedpom added 00:52 - Mar 25 Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. If he changes the team then he's accused of 'tinkering' now,Nick, you are saying he's to predictable. I agree with the fact that Lambert seems fireproof and he should be subbed too, as on Tuesday he was very quiet. But I agree with NA and a midfielder is needed its to important an area to be ignored. He has time to be introduced and know his teamates. Lets wait and see and hope

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st_bangkok added 05:48 - Mar 25 To be fair to NA, he has inherited another managers squad and we all know that with new managers comes new faces normally. But Adkins was not given this luxury. I believe when he came here he would have been told to make do, as there is no more money being spent etc. So perhaps he just does not rate some of Pardew's signings but cant replace them, so in effect he has a thin squad in his own mind.

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