JAN Bednarek is in line to make his Saints debut as Mauricio Pellegrino’s men continue their pre-season programme at Championship side Brentford tomorrow.
The £5m signing from Lech Poznan, who is Saints’ only summer signing of 2017, arrived at the club this week, having enjoyed an extended break after playing for Poland at the European Under-21 Championships.
The 21-year-old central defender is likely to be thrown straight in to the mix as Pellegrino continues to mould his team ahead of the new Premier League season, which starts three weeks tomorrow against Swansea at St Mary’s.
It will be another chance for the Argentine to experiment with his team and get them playing the football he wants to see, having complained that the conditions of the pitch in Switzerland in their 0-0 friendly draw against St Gallen inhibited his side’s progression.
The 45-year-old stated that with time at a premium ahead of the big kick-off this week, and will be eager for his team to make big strides at The Bees.
Virgil van Dijk seems unlikely at this stage to return to the field, with the club stating that the Dutchman is continuing to step up his recovery from the foot ligament injury which has sidelined him since late January.
The central defender continues to be heavily linked with a move away to Liverpool, but has, as reported by the Daily Echo this, not handed in a transfer request at St Mary’s yet.
Ryan Bertrand has been in full training after a minor hamstring problem kept him out of the St Gallen draw and could be involved tomorrow.
Along with Bednarek, James Ward-Prowse, Matt Targett and Jack Stephens returned to the club this week after their involvement with England Under-21s at the European Championships.
The Young Lions trio will be pushing for game-time at Griffin Park tomorrow, while Nathan Redmond and Cedric Soares are yet to return to the fold but are set to join the squad for their trip to France on Monday.
The Brentford game will be Saints’ second pre-season game of five, with games at Saint-Etienne and at home to FC Augsburg and Sevilla still to come.
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