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How Nathan Redmond has performed since his full England debut

By Christian Bird

ENFIELD, ENGLAND - MARCH 25: (L-R) England teammates Nathan Redmond and Jesse Lingard share a joke during the England training session at the Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on March 25, 2017 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
ENFIELD, ENGLAND - MARCH 25: (L-R) England teammates Nathan Redmond and Jesse Lingard share a joke during the England training session at the Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on March 25, 2017 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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There’s no denial that Nathan Redmond remains one of England’s top young wingers – but how has he performed since making the step up to the Three Lions’ senior squad?

Nathan Redmond, aged 23, had been in inspiring form for Southampton and country, named England under-21 Player of the Year for 2016 and made his full international debut against Germany in March, but just recently, Saints Boss Claude Puel has decided to leave him out in favour of new signing Sofiane Boufal.

Nathan Redmond has an air of maturity about him, where he hasn’t been rushed up to the full England squad, that makes him a great acquisition/player for Southampton, however does this justify him not playing 75 to 80 minutes a game? I don’t think so.

He’s not a player who has been hit by injuries of late, which is why he has featured in 33 games this season, and only four of those of the bench, so why the late substitution?

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – APRIL 29: Nathan Redmond of Southampton arrives prior to the Premier League match between Southampton and Hull City at St Mary’s Stadium on April 29, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – APRIL 29: Nathan Redmond of Southampton arrives prior to the Premier League match between Southampton and Hull City at St Mary’s Stadium on April 29, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images) /

Let’s take a look back and see why.

He scored his last goal(s) (a brace) against Watford in February in early March. He also started the League cup final against Manchester United a week before. He scored Southampton’s first in a 3-1 hauling Crystal palace a month later, but has not scored since.

Fans may have thought Redmond was receiving a rest for the season when he started from the bench against Chelsea a fortnight ago, but against Liverpool on Sunday there was a repeat occurrence.

In both of his recent goal spurts, he put in a man-of-the-match performance, although much of this would have taken into account that he is a midfielder where goal-scoring isn’t predatory.

Throughout the 2016/2017 Premier League campaign, Nathan Redmond has scored six, twice in back-to-back games during October, but has failed to keep a continuous streak of games due to his fitness, which at his age should be better.

I would like to see him stay at Southampton and become a key figure wearing the Red and White strip, but there is competition for places now at St Mary’s and away from home, so he’ll need to continue to play his best. I certainly don’t think Southgate will promote him yet.