WILL Smallbone took one big step closer to a return after starting for the B team yesterday, although manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has revealed that he wanted to play the youngster against Sheffield United, “but it was too early.”

The 21-year-old midfielder ran out for the first half for David Horseman at League One outfit Charlton Athletic in the EFL Trophy, as the side succumbed to an eventual 4-1 defeat.

It was his first 45 minutes of action after suffering an ACL injury in Leicester back in January, prompting a long road to recovery of which he is now coming out the other end. 

The Basingstoke-born popular Saints academy graduate began to make regular first team appearances towards the end of February 2020 after scoring in the FA Cup against Huddersfield.

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Operating anywhere across the midfield, central or wide, he only tasted defeat in one of his first nine Premier League matches.

Asked before the EFL Trophy contest if we’d see Smallbone get back on the pitch for the B team, Hasenhuttl then told the Daily Echo: “Good question.

“At the moment he makes a good impression I think for me in sessions, quite confident in what he is doing.

“I wanted to use him against Sheffield (United) but it was too early, we must definitely give him some games and we will have a look.”

What made the grim injury all the more troubling for the Republic of Ireland under-21 international was that in came in his first game back from another hamstring layoff, one that had kept him out since the start of October 2020.

Daily Echo: Will Smallbone had to be replaced at King Power Stadium in January - his last first team appearance (Pic: PA)Will Smallbone had to be replaced at King Power Stadium in January - his last first team appearance (Pic: PA)

As well as taxing on the body, there can be no doubt such an unforgiving setback could not go without taxation on the young mind.

But it makes the minutes put into the legs at The Valley all the more important, despite coming off the pitch 3-0 down at half time to a relatively strong and senior EFL team.

With James Ward-Prowse out for three games with suspension, it promotes Ibrahima Diallo to the first team and could leave room for a brief cameo for Smallbone if Hasenhuttl deems him ready – when he does earn another Premier League bow, appearance number 13 in the competition will definitely feel lucky to him.

Hasenhuttl added: “In general, it shows you that this big chance you have to be a Premier League footballer is sometimes hanging on a very thin line.

Daily Echo: The youngster's only Saints goal was the opener in the 2-0 FA Cup win vs Huddersfield (Pic: PA)The youngster's only Saints goal was the opener in the 2-0 FA Cup win vs Huddersfield (Pic: PA)

“This is for every player the risk you take, when you are looking at all the players with a lot of talent and didn’t make it because of injury or a bad injury,” he continued, “it can definitely cost you a career.

“Or it can give you a chance for developing your deficits you have, getting stronger with your body, in general working hard in the rehab to come back stronger.

“I always say that every injured player is a chance, a chance to work on things and then you come back stronger. This is what I hope with Will.”