Southampton's fringe stars with point to prove to Nathan Jones

Perhaps above all though, a fresh start breeds hope.

With Nathan Jones appointed to the Saints helm to replace Ralph Hasenhuttl - and given almost six weeks through the World Cup break in which to work with his new squad - Southampton have a real fresh start.

READ MORE: The secrets behind Saints boss Nathan Jones's Yeovil success

And their season badly needs it. After 15 matches, Saints sit second-bottom, averaging less than one point per game and only slightly more than one goal per game. Their longest unbeaten stretch reached three games and on zero occasions have they hit more than two goals in any given match.

In short, it’s been ugly. And that’s why, after almost four years in charge, Hasenhuttl’s tenure was severed with just one week until the Premier League pressed pause. In the works for some time prior to the eventual dismissal, Jones was quickly appointed the Austrian’s successor and now takes his team to Spain for a training camp ahead of the league’s return on Boxing Day.

The swift action and new beginning has restored hope amongst some sections of the Saints fanbase but even more crucially, it may have restored hope amongst sections of the playing squad.

As with every manager, Hasenhuttl had his favourites and that meant there were some left on the outskirts. A fresh start is needed for everyone, but here is a set of players that could be more grateful than most…

Ibrahima Diallo

Premier League games started: 6

Percent of Saints’ minutes played: 33%

It would be unfair on Hasenhuttl to suggest he has not given Diallo a chance - as with this list as a whole - virtually all of Saints’ fringe assets have had opportunities to prove themselves; with little success for a number of reasons.

Diallo is someone Hasenhuttl clearly believed in. His first season in England did not go to plan as he struggled to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League. But still, 22 appearances was hardly a failure and there were flashes of the player Saints hoped he could develop into.

Unfortunately, season number two saw little if any forward steps taken as Diallo made just one more league appearance while starting ten games, the exact same number as the season prior.

Entering the current campaign, things hardly looked easier for Diallo thanks to the arrivals of extra competition in the middle of the park including Romeo Lavia, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and Joe Aribo. Still, he was afforded chances - albeit not many of them and not regularly.

The 23-year-old has started six of Saints’ 15 league fixtures but as has always been the case for Diallo, he’s found it almost impossible to string a set of consecutive starts together. Not once this season has he made three straight starts and while it’s difficult for any player to get in a rhythm without that regular action, it’s hard to argue that Diallo has deserved more chances.

Take the recent 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. After impressing in Saints’ 1-1 draw with league-leading Arsenal, Diallo put in 45 of the more catastrophic minutes seen by a Saints player as he routinely fueld dangerous Palace attacks by giving the ball away cheaply or failing to react. Mercifully hooked at half time, Diallo appeared just as ill-prepared for the Premier League as he did on day one, more than two years ago.

With his contract set to expire in the summer of 2024, Diallo is entering something of his last chance. If he fails to make the grade this season, it would be wise for Saints to try and cash in before he departs on a free transfer.

He was never able to nail down a consistent starting role under Hasenhuttl. Will it be different under Jones? Maybe not, but Diallo has been in desperate need of wholesale changes and now he’s got them. Let’s see what he can do.

Adam Armstrong

Premier League games started: 11

Percent of Saints minutes played: 65%

Another of Saints relative fringe players who can’t complain about a lack of opportunities, Armstrong has started almost 75% of his side’s games this season. Unfortunately, the forward has continued where he left off last season: failing to score goals.

After totalling just two league goals in his maiden Saints campaign, Armstrong has come up with just one so far this season - the admittedly crucial winner against Chelsea at the end of August. Saints have desperately needed last summer’s £15m signing to kick on this season and thus far it just has not happened.

There have been mitigating factors this season. Primarily, that has come in the form of Armstrong’s new position. Largely utilised up front next to Che Adams or Armando Broja last season in Hasenhuttl’s 4-2-2-2, the Geordie native has largely been shifted out wide this time around as Saints shift between the 4-2-2-2 and more of a 4-3-3 system. 

Naturally, this has completely changed Armstrong’s role. No longer an out-and-out striker with the aim of making runs in behind the opposition defence and getting in the box to shoot - and ideally score - Armstrong has become more of a facilitator.

His new position has usually found him wider and deeper with his main purpose to progress the ball up the pitch and help the attack get going rather than get the final touch himself. At times, he has excelled in this role. But one goal and one assist just isn’t enough. 

Now with Jones coming in, Armstrong will be hoping his Saints career can receive the shot in the arm it so desperately requires. During his two spells in charge of Luton Town, Jones mostly utilised a 5-3-2 formation with two strikers up front and whether or not he shakes things up with Saints, that in itself should provide Armstrong with confidence that he’ll get another crack as a pure striker.

But there’s no more time to waste. If that opportunity does indeed arrive, Armstrong needs to grab it.

Stuart Armstrong

Premier League games started: 7

Percent of Saints’ minutes played: 51%

As well as a seismic-seeming moment in their season and Hasenhuttl’s time in charge, Saints’ memorable victory over Chelsea in the final hours of summer was noteworthy for another reason. It was the first time since December 2019 that Saints managed to record a league victory without Stuart Armstrong’s involvement.

That statistic in itself is fallible thanks to a few late-game cameos that kept the Scotsman’s streak alive in recent years but it represented something that is hard to escape from: Armstrong’s influence has waned dramatically.

It’s hard to put a finger on when exactly the decline started but from an essential component of nearly every game-plan and system, Armstrong’s role has become far more sporadic this season. Starting just seven of his side’s 15 league games and playing a shade over 50% of their minutes, the 30-year-old has often seen his spot handed to the likes of Moi Elyounoussi, Adam Armstrong, Joe Aribo, Moussa Djenepo, and others.

Armstrong did start all four of Saints’ final games before the World Cup break but such a consistent force in the past, he’s looked anything but that. Crucial errors at both Spurs and Man City helped Saints’ overpowered foes waltz past them while he's come up with just one goal and no assists.

Admittedly, that one goal was a hugely important equaliser against Arsenal but overall this season has been a disappointment for Armstrong. He still has time to turn it around and as one of the only experienced players in the squad, one would expect Jones to lean on Armstrong at times.

Moussa Djenepo

Premier League games started: 5

Percent of Saints’ minutes played: 39%

An interesting case study in itself, Djenepo’s Saints career enjoyed something of a renaissance to start the 2022/23 campaign. After starting zero league games from November onwards last season, many expected the Mali international to depart St Mary’s this summer. But instead, he stuck around to play a crucial role.

With Saints’ full back options limited due to injuries to Tino Livramento and Romain Perruad - as well as Juan Larios not yet arriving - Hasenhuttl was forced to get creative. His choice? Taking the eccentric Djenepo and using him as a left back.

The most surprising part of Djenepo’s revitalisation was that it actually worked as he excelled in his new defensive position until Perraud was able to return from a groin issue sustained in pre-season.

Still just 24 years old, Djenepo’s flexibility and industry was rewarded with a new three-year contract in mid-September but since then he has barely featured. 48 hours after the new deal was confirmed, Dkenepo started his side’s 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa but has played just 42 minutes of Premier League action since then.

It became increasingly clear that Hasenhuttl wasn’t sure where or how Djenepo fits. Is he the inconsistent but game-breaking winger he appeared to be in his first few appearances? Is he an energetic midfielder? A surprisingly disciplined full back? Seemingly deemed less good than other options in the squad in all of those roles, Djenepo’s time on the pitch has cratered in recent months.

But now, like all of his teammates, Djenepo has a fresh start. It may prove equally difficult to crack Jones’ starting XI but he could provide the new boss with an exciting option at wing-back in the 5-3-2 or further up the pitch. Djenepo’s positivity and unpredictability is useful - he has to prove that Jones.

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