October 25th 2024.
Will Smallbone is currently facing a setback in the form of a hamstring injury. Unfortunately, this means that he will not be able to join his team for a little while. On top of that, there is also some uncertainty surrounding Yuki Sugawara's availability for Southampton's upcoming match against Manchester City this Saturday. The Saints have not had the best start since returning to the Premier League, only managing to secure one point in their first eight games and suffering three consecutive losses.
It's no secret that there is a lot of pressure on manager Martin as the team continues to struggle. Their next opponent, the reigning champions Manchester City, will surely not make things any easier for them. Adding to their challenges, Smallbone had just returned from his previous hamstring injury in their last game against Leicester, only to sustain a similar issue. As for Sugawara, while he has been a regular starter for the team, he may not be fully fit for this match due to a minor injury.
During a recent press conference, Martin shared his thoughts on the team's current situation. He expressed his disappointment over Smallbone's and Ross Stewart's injuries, which will keep them out of the game for a while. When asked about Adam Lallana, who returned to Southampton this summer, Martin explained that while the experienced player has been a valuable asset both on and off the pitch, they cannot expect him to play every single game at 36 years old. However, he believes that Lallana's talent and experience will undoubtedly benefit the team at some point.
The team's previous game against Leicester was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Southampton initially leading 2-0 before ultimately losing 3-2 due to a last-minute goal from Jordan Ayew. Adding to their frustration, Ryan Fraser was sent off in the second half. Despite the disappointing outcome, Martin chooses to focus on the positives, noting that he saw a lot of good things from the team during the game. He also emphasized the team's strong work ethic and positive culture, stating that they have been working hard to improve their performance this week.
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