For most of this season Jan Bednarek was considered by many Saints supporters as a poor signing by Les Reed, yet he came through at the end of the season to show that he could become a good player.
When Jan Bednarek arrived last summer it was initially assumed that he was one for the future, aged 21 he had just broken into the Polish full international squad and it was hoped by many that he would break into the Saints first team squad soon.
His first first team appearance came in the League Cup against Wolves and in an experimental back three alongside Stevens & Yoshida he failed to shine, this lead many as the season started to unravel to hold him up as yet another poor signing by Les Reed.
His second appearance at Fulham in the FA Cup in January saw him being played at right back in a flat back four, he was clearly out of position, but he had a reasonable game leading those present to hope that perhaps he might be a decent signing for the future after all.
But as the season reached it's climax he was yet to make a Premier League start, but with Mark Hughes desperate and Jack Stevens banned, suddenly it was a back three and in came Bednarek for his debut against Chelsea, he had a solid debut also scoring the second Saints goal, but it was soured by a 3-2 defeat.
He would keep his place for all but the final game, missing that after being taken off with concussion at Swansea.
So only 5 Premier League games plus a 3 more in the cups for Bednarek, but in that time he did enough to suggest that he could be one for the future, his problem will be though getting through the log jam in front of him, Saints surely have to sign a quality central defender to replace Van Dijk, then it would be a question of what formation Mark Hughes plays at the back.
If it s two central defenders then a new signing would most likely play alongside Wesley Hoedt with Bednarek competing with Yoshida and Stevens as back up.
The worry is that Saints will not make a central defensive signing, this would be folly, at the moment we do not have any true quality in the centre, Hoedt has possibilities but needs experience alongside him, Bednarek has the potential, but I'm afraid that Yoshida and Stevens will merely confuse the situation.
One good think is that Saints supporters are now hopeful that Jan Bednarek will perhaps have a future at Saints.