Sourced from Daily Echo article
Puel: I have total confidence in Stephens
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Claude Puel insists he has total confidence in Jack Stephens as the 22-year-old centre half prepares for the biggest game of his life in the League Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield.
Virgil van Dijk is a major doubt for tomorrow’s match after being forced off in the win over Leicester with an injury to his left foot.
The Dutchman has undergone a scan but with the bruising and swelling still a problem, the chances of him making the tie against Liverpool, which Saints go into with a 1-0 lead, appear to be slim.
If van Dijk doesn’t make it then Stephens will be handed the chance to partner Maya Yoshida in the heart of the Saints defence.
Puel has faith Stephens is up to the task, despite the fact he would be making just his fourth start for the club.
“For all the players it’s the same. It’s an important game, an exciting game and fantastic to play this game,” said the Saints boss.
“Just positive things to play this game and for Jack it is the same thing.
“If he has to play this game I think he will play with a good spirit and calm and he’s a good player, an international under-21 and now important games and he has quality.
“I have all my confidence with Jack. It’s not a problem for me. If he has to play he will play with a good spirit and a good mentality.”
Stephens came through the youth ranks at Plymouth and played a handful of first team games for the club before moving to Saints for £150,000.
After loan spells at Swindon, Middlesbrough and Coventry, he made his first Premier League appearance earlier this month, but now looks set to be thrust into a massive night for Saints.
“It’s a good defender, he’s intelligent, he can anticipate the action with a good position, very good technical and for me it’s important to start the play, to have confidence, and to anticipate all the situations,” reckoned Puel, who is also waiting on the fitness of Steven Davis.
“I think with for example Maya they play together against Norwich and it was a good feeling, good possibilities, and they have habits also in the training session because we change often the possibility and the team in the training sessions to have this possibility to know the positions and the feeling between them. I think it’s always important.
“I’m confident it’s a good player and we see him with the under-21s also at home and it was a good game, he was the best player of the England team.
“I repeat, I am confident with him like the other players.”
He added: “It’s a competition since the beginning we played with young players.
“The last qualifier against Arsenal away it was a strong game with young players who can do a fantastic result, good level, focus just about their game, their play, and this is the most important.
“They took confidence between them and they have different habits in training sessions and in the play to give a good answer. It’s not a problem.
“For Jack and for all the other players it’s just to think about our game and a strong game together and we will see the result at the final.”
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