Jeremy Pied to get his chance with Cedric Soares yet to return to pre-season

CEDRIC Soares may start next term behind right-back rival Jeremy Pied in the pecking order after an extended break this summer.

The 25-year-old will soon return to Saints after spending much of this month on his closed season break following his involvement in the Confederations Cup with Portugal.

Cedric helped Fernando Santos’ men to third place at the competition in Russia, but it means he comes back to St Mary’s with just two weeks and two pre-season games to get up to scratch before the new campaign begins.

The former Sporting Lisbon man will have to go through the usual conditioning and fitness-building period that the rest of the squad were put through at the start of this month.

This ultimately means Cedric may well have to be eased carefully back in to the season, with Mauricio Pellegrino more than aware that he’ll need to build his way back up to be at the same stage as the rest of the squad.

He’ll likely get game time in home friendlies against FC Augsburg and Sevilla next week, but won’t be ready for a full game yet.

The Argentine chief will, however, not see this is as too much of an issue as Pied has proved in pre-season training and in friendly appearances against St Gallen and Brentford that he has much to offer.

Pied played a half against the Swiss outfit and 77 minutes against the Bees.

The Frenchman, who arrived on a free transfer last summer, was very much a trusty servant of Claude Puel, having worked under the former St Mary’s boss at Nice and Lyon.

However, a serious knee injury last August in training, just 12 days after his debut in Saints’ 1-1 draw with Watford, meant Pied spent nine months sidelined, and would only return for the final three games of the season.

And now with Puel gone, the 28-year-old remains a bit of an unknown quantity, especially to new boss Pellegrino, and will be more than aware, having signed a two year contract on his arrival at St Mary’s, that he’ll be battling for his Saints future this season.

He has already made a good impact on Pellegrino and the boss will know that he can rely on him while Cedric works his way to full form and fitness.

Pied will certainly be viewed as an upgrade on former back up right-back Cuco Martina, who was released this summer and has since joined Everton.