DO we once again find ourselves asking the desperate question: 'Can Kamaldeen Sulemana be the man to turn Southampton's season around?'

The 22 year old returned to the side for the first time this campaign on Saturday, having recovered from an injury he suffered during pre-season.

He came off the bench during the disastrous collapse against Leicester - and it was his friend, Abdul Fatawu, who helped the Foxes to a dramatic 3-2 win.

Fawatu epitomised everything Saints fans hoped record-signing Kamaldeen would provide. He was direct and tricky and played a role in all three goals.

Kamadeen had been minutes away from completing a loan transfer to Ajax in September but the Dutch giants failed to file their paperwork in time.

Saints staff were unimpressed with how the Ghanaian carried out the detail expected of him during the early stages of last season.

His standing in Russell Martin's squad may have benefited from not being available for the first seven games of this Premier League campaign.

Kamaldeen Sulemana got injured during pre-seasonKamaldeen Sulemana got injured during pre-season (Image: Southampton FC / Matt Watson) The winger was selected ahead of £7million signing Ben Brereton Diaz on Saturday after the Chile international's slow adjustment to life at St Mary's.

Martin brought him on in the hopes he would provide just one spark in front of goal. However, Leicester's Wout Faes had other plans.

Martin has regularly been asked how he and his coaching staff can unlock the best version of Kamaldeen - one which we are yet to see at Saints.

He arrived from Rennes for a £22million fee and therefore was expected to deliver a higher standard of performance than he has managed. 

It is over a year since his last goal -  his brace against Liverpool on the final day of the 2022/23 season remains the only time he has scored in red and white.

Many felt that a season in the Championship would help him gain some much-needed momentum after a slow start to life at St Mary's.

He actually played fewer league minutes in his second season - that is despite arriving midway through the 2022/23 campaign - and managed just three assists.

A footballer's contribution should not be reduced down to the numbers in their goal and assist columns but a rate of £4.1million per contribution is not enough.

Keeping Kamaldeen fit is the biggest concern for Southampton this season. He has rarely played much more than 1,000 minutes in a league campaign.

The most league minutes he has ever managed in a single season is 1,737, a feat he achieved while playing for Nordsjælland at the age of 19.

Martin recently claimed he was unable to get the same version of Kamaldeen back last year after he suffered an injury midway through the season.

Russell Martin insisted Saints need to keep Kamaldeen Sulemana fitRussell Martin insisted Saints need to keep Kamaldeen Sulemana fit (Image: Stuart Martin) Pace is Kamaldeen's biggest strength, but going off the evidence gathered by studying his clips on analysis tool Wyscout, it can also be a weakness.

One criticism aimed at him is a tendency to try to beat the same player more than once. Theo Walcott pointed it out when speaking to Sky Sports last year.

The former England international - famed for his own pace - was asked to name the fastest player he has ever played with and chose Kamaldeen.

“He’s so quick," Walcott explained. "I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s really quick but he always likes to beat the player, come back, and then try and beat the player again.

“I just feel like you’ve beaten him once, you’re done now, you need to use your pace.”

That desire to turn an opponent inside out remains, despite Walcott's pubic words of advice. It's these skills which got him to the Premier League.

Kamaldeen Sulemana beats the defender twice before deciding to pass to Ryan ManningKamaldeen Sulemana beats the defender before turning back, beating him again and passing to Ryan Manning. (Image: WyScout) However, Kamaldeen frustrated Martin as he often sought to receive the ball in deep areas while facing away from the goal rather than running behind.

If he is successful in spinning his opponent, it's not uncommon to see him attempt another one-on-one rather than burst free and toward the goal.

It should also be pointed out that he is a player capable of creating something out of nothing - his second goal for Saints proved exactly that.

It would be unfair to write off his Southampton career at this early stage. Still only 22 and with three years left on his deal, time is on his side.

As Martin recently pointed out, only a small number of players are physically capable of doing what Kamaldeen can do at full speed.

Martin believes he has seen a "different" version of Kamaldeen in training since his latest return but insisted he is only fit to play up to 20 minutes.

"Once we get him into a place where he can repeatedly sprint and do his thing, then I think he can really help us," Martin explained.

"He has some brilliant attributes that you can't use unless he is fully fit. He's trained really hard since he's been back, but three weeks doesn't make him ready.

Southampton's Kamaldeen Sulemana during a Premier League game against Leicester CitySouthampton's Kamaldeen Sulemana during a Premier League game against Leicester City (Image: Stuart Martin) "When you look at his attributes, it's easy to get excited about him. You'd probably expect more goals and assists to his name. 

"It's not a question of talent right now, it's about keeping him fit and away from injury - that's probably stalled his progress a little bit.

"He's a great guy with great talent. We have to get him in a position where he can contribute regularly but he needs more time."

Having failed to make a mark in his first 19 months at the club, this season may be the last chance saloon for Kamaldeen. He has to do something.

Tyler Dibling has excelled in one-on-one situations since stepping into the first team. There is no reason why Kamaldeen can't do the same.