Southampton manager Russell Martin may face another setback as one of his key players picked up an injury during their final match of the international break.
The Saints endured a dismal 2022/23 season, finishing last in the Premier League and being relegated to the Championship. They managed just six wins and 25 points throughout the campaign.
To make matters worse, Southampton also lost some of their top players during the transfer window. James Ward-Prowse, a club legend, was sold to West Ham for £30m, Romeo Lavia was acquired by Chelsea for £58m, and Nathan Tella joined Bayer Leverkusen for £20m. These sales generated a total of £156m in transfer revenue.
Despite the departure of key players, new manager Russell Martin has guided Southampton to a solid start in the current season. The team currently sits seventh in the table with 10 points.
However, their unbeaten start came to an end with a crushing 5-0 defeat by Sunderland, which has raised concerns for Martin and his team.
Now, there could be more trouble on the horizon for Southampton, as Polish defender Jan Bednarek sustained an injury during his country’s 2-0 loss to Albania in the European Qualifiers. Bednarek, a standout performer for the Eagles during the international break, was substituted in the 34th minute of the match.
The 27-year-old defender was particularly impressive in Poland’s 2-0 victory over the Faroe Islands. He received a rating of 7.8 from Sofascore, the second-highest in the game behind goalscorer Robert Lewandowski.
Bednarek had left Southampton on loan to Aston Villa last summer, causing frustration among the St Mary’s fanbase for praising his new club as “massive.” However, since his return from loan, he has become an integral part of the squad and is regarded as one of Southampton’s finest players.
Last season, Bednarek ranked as Southampton’s third-best performer with an average rating of 6.93, according to Sofascore. His standout performances earned praise from BBC pundit Garth Crooks, who commended his defensive prowess during Southampton’s 1-0 victory over Chelsea in February.
It is uncertain whether Bednarek will be available for Southampton’s upcoming match against third-placed Leicester, which would be a significant blow for Martin and the team. Bednarek has started every game this season and his absence would leave a void that could be filled by recent additions Mason Holgate, on loan from Everton, or 19-year-old Shea Charles, who joined Southampton permanently from Manchester City but typically plays as a defensive midfielder.
