Show/hide article…
Forgotten man Florin Gardos could take advantage of Jose Fonte’s expected move away from St Mary’s by re-establishing his Saints career.
Romanian international defender Gardos joined Saints two-and-a-half years ago for around £4m but has made just 11 starts in that time, with his progress being hampered by a serious knee injury.
Gardos has been back playing with the under-23s this season, but was totally out of the first team reckoning until a surprise recall to the bench for the FA Cup third round replay with Norwich.
The 28-year-old still has 18 months left to run on his Saints contract, but needs to make an impression soon if his stay is to be extended with Jose Fonte departing the club.
Saints boss Claude Puel said: “It’s a long time with a lot injuries for Gardos, but he came back for the under-23s before this game (Norwich) with a good level and we will see if we just have Jack (Stephens) and Florin (Gardos) or you might see another player if Jose Fonte leaves Southampton.
“Florin comes back in at an interesting level. We know he’s had different injuries and we will see in the reflection to see if Florin can participate with the squad at a good level. We will see this.”
Without Fonte, Maya Yoshida and Virgil van Dijk are the first choice centre half pairing, with Jack Stephens and Gardos battling to be next in line, and to convince Puel he doesn’t need to recruit another defender this month.
“It’s other quality than Jose, but I think I’m happy with the situation and with Yoshida and Van Dijk,” reckoned Puel.
“It’s a strong defence – a strong central defence, with technical and with good quality in the duels. Sometimes injury or a player with a red card it’s important to consider if it’s enough with Jack and Florin to give a solution. “ There has been much criticism of late over Puel’s tactics, but he insists he will stick by his plans and that the players will respond.
“It’s always the same system, always the same tactic, every time. Every play. All the players have rehearsed the system, and the play,” he said.
“It’s an obligation (to rotate): we play every three days, it’s not possible to play with the same 11 players.
“I repeat, it’s a good system because we can develop different players; young players can play with good opportunities, and qualities, and we improve always different players, young players of the academy.
“This is important for us, because it’s our work, and we develop the squad. We have two players for every position of the team, and this is very important.
“We are, since the beginning of the season, the first team with all these games, the second I think is Manchester United.
“Playing all these games with quality, and good freshness, lucidity, it’s important to make some rotation. Against Leicester, it will be different, and against Norwich. It’s normal.”
Go to the original article…
...shimmeringly brought into existence by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
| 
| 
| 
| 
“I hope we can make progress.”