Saints Marching
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Marching On: 7 Keys to Southampton’s Success This Season

By Aaron Preston

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: General view of St Mary's Stadium as the teams walk out prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Crystal Palace at St Mary's Stadium on May 15, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: General view of St Mary's Stadium as the teams walk out prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Crystal Palace at St Mary's Stadium on May 15, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images) /
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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MARCH 21: Fraser Forster of Southampton signals to the bench after picking up an injury during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Burnley at St Mary’s Stadium on March 21, 2015 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MARCH 21: Fraser Forster of Southampton signals to the bench after picking up an injury during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Burnley at St Mary’s Stadium on March 21, 2015 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images) /

1. Tame the Injury Bug
This might be the biggest one. Southampton’s laundry list of injuries the past two seasons, including Fraser Forster’s 6-month absence in the 14/15 campaign, make the club’s finishing positions something of a small miracle. More recently, the club was forced to contend with extended absences from left-back Ryan Bertrand and defensive midfielder Jordy Clasie; both missed 10 games last season, with a knee and ankle injury respectively.

Through it all, Southampton have managed to adapt, improvise and overcome. That said, it’s safe to say the club shouldn’t expect this run of good luck in bad situations to continue. It will be up to the trainers and medical staff to ensure that Southampton remain healthy, and heal quickly, in the season to come. With 44 games to play between Europe and the Premiership, the season will depend on it in a big way.

Fortunately, the preseason seems to have gone well enough, with no injuries reported in the run-up to Saturday’s opener versus Watford.

Next: Back to School With Claude Puel