SAINTS boss Nathan Jones has attempted to explain his decision to leave full-back Romain Perraud on the bench for the first half of Tuesday’s second-leg EFL Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle United.

Perraud has struggled to nail down a consistent role under Jones and even as the Saints manager chose to utilise five defenders from the offset at St James’ Park, the Frenchman was not one of those picked with James Bree and Kyle Walker-Peters preferred on the flanks.

READ MORE: Jones - 'We just gave ourselves a massive mountain to climb'

Perraud ended up replacing Lyanco at half-time as Saints switched to a back four after the break and despite an improved performance, the damage was already done from Newcastle’s quick start that saw them stretch their first-leg advantage.

Two goals in the FA Cup against Blackpool took Perraud to third on his team’s goalscoring charts and following the 3-1 aggregate defeat to Newcastle, the Daily Echo asked Jones what the left-back needs to do in order to earn consistent minutes.

“I think he’s been excellent in the last two games and has continued that,” Jones answered. 

“We want outcomes from him. On the weekend we got outcomes in terms of a free-kick and I think he gets in wonderful positions and we want outcomes, we want quality in everything we do. 

“But look, he was in and out before I came and that’s continued a little bit but everyone is going to be needed.”

After a slow start to the season that saw him battle back from a broken foot and a groin problem, Perraud started nine of the final 11 Premier League games under Ralph Hasenhuttl. 

He has started three of six league matches under Jones while beginning on the bench for both legs of Saints’ EFL Cup semi-final clash with Newcastle.

Meanwhile, competition is only increasing in the full-back department with the January arrival of Bree and the news that Juan Larios is nearing a return from injury.

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