His time at St Mary's was not exactly a raging success after joining on loan from Augsburg in August 2019, but I am sure that all Saints supporters will wish Kevin Danso good luck in his upcoming heart operation.

Initially Kevin Danso looked like being just the player that Southampton needed when his fellow Austrian Ralph Hasenhuttl took him on a season long loan in 2019.

He starred in a 2-0 win at Brighton on his debut in the Premier League and followed that up with 90 minutes in the League cup win at Fulham.

But in his 3rd appearance it all went a little wrong after he was sent off in the 73rd minute.

He returned a few weeks later but was subbed at half time in a 3-1 home defeat to Bournemouth, from then on he seemed to fall out of favour with Ralph Hasenhuttl, he would start just one more League game and from then on he would just make the occasional sub appearance, his last game coming in the Premier League coming on 2nd November.

He would make two more starts though in the FA Cup in January 2020, but in a season interupted by Covid, he would not get off the bench again and at the end of the season Southampton did not take up their option buy.

A shame really because he clearly had something and he reignites his career on loan at Fortuna Dusseldorf which lead to a move to French club Lens, he had 3 good seasons in Ligue 1 before AS Roma had a bid in the region of £21 million accepted to take him to Italy.

Here was were the problem started as reported by express.co.uk a heart defect was detected causing the deal to fall through and he start the season back at Lens, however further tests, Danso and Lens have sought advice from cardiologists in Italy, Switzerland, Austria and France in an attempt to get to the bottom of his heart issue. But the specialists were unable to agree on one specific diagnosis.

A further examination in England showed up scarring on the hear and now Danso must undergo surgery to sort it out.

It should not be too complicated and it is said he may be back in action before the end of October.

Danso who although born in Austria had been on the books of MK Dons and lived in Milton Keynes from the age of 9 till 14, has spoken about his time at St Mary's.

Danso told The Athletic in 2022:

"I am very critical, and for some part, I am to blame myself. It was my first time back in England for five years and I spent a lot of time with my friends and maybe not enough time focusing as I did in Germany. "

Perhaps things could have been different if he had applied himself and having only just turned 26 perhaps he may one day return to the Premier League.

I would hope that all Southampton supporters would join me in wishing him well for the future.

Photo: Action Images

StRipper added 13:16 - Sep 25 Danso, ABK, Josh Mills, Larrios, just to name a few Saints who tragically happened to develop heart defects and whose careers have been ended or seriously restricted. Let alone the raft of other well known players. Including Luton's Lockyer, Man United Lindelof and Eriksen, Brighton's Estupinan and on and on. Coincidentally all around the same time. Something never really seen in football before

0

Watford Polls