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Next season is ride-or-die for Southampton’s Sam Gallagher

By Chris Hughes

BLACKBURN, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: Sam Gallagher of Blackburn Rovers during the Sky Bet Championship match between Blackburn Rovers and Leeds United at Ewood Park on February 1, 2017 in Blackburn, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
BLACKBURN, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: Sam Gallagher of Blackburn Rovers during the Sky Bet Championship match between Blackburn Rovers and Leeds United at Ewood Park on February 1, 2017 in Blackburn, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Sam Gallagher is one of many young players among the Saints’ ranks. But is this upcoming season a make-or-break affair for the 21-year-old?

When you think about Southampton’s top young talents, you think of Sam McQueen, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg or maybe even Josh Sims, but the first name that pops into your head would rarely be Sam Gallagher.

Despite this the striker has enjoyed a successful season on-loan at Blackburn Rovers, scoring a dozen goals despite the side failing to avoid relegation.

The young striker is almost a throwback to the Pochettino era of Southampton, when the now-Tottenham manager regularly deployed Gallagher a substitute for Rickie Lambert.

Since then he’s barely featured, but will only be 22 in September, meaning he’s still younger than the likes of Jack Stephens.

However Gallagher’s contract is set to expire in the summer of 2018, and many would realistically suggest that the youngster needs to impress in some way, shape or form by this time next year to stay on with the club.

As a teenager Gallagher showed glimpses of serious potential, despite his average goal return. He had good pace for a tall lad and just lacked the composed head that more experience would bring.

However under Ronald Koeman Gallagher fell away from the first team and as a result has spent his last two seasons away from the club on loan.

He has a natural poachers instinct but above everything he is tall and physical. Looking at Southampton’s current crop of strikers, you’d struggle to argue that one is a serious target man which heading ability.

If Gallagher is to take his chances in pre-season and secure a spot as Saints’ third or fourth choice striker, he could really make an impact with his ability in the air.

Bringing him on late when a goal is needed with the crossing ability in the squad is a great fall-back option when things aren’t going in Southampton’s favour.

Gallagher is also sure to have more of a professional and positive attitude waiting for his chance in comparison to bringing in a new striker. Both Jay Rodriguez and Shane Long could be on their way out this summer, so bringing in one newbie and promoting Gallagher would fill the void well.

However if he doesn’t fit in Puel’s or whoever is in charge’s plans then it could be the end of his career at Southampton. He’s proven his worth in the Championship so wouldn’t be without suitors in the second tier.

But having joined the club five years ago there’s no denial that he’d rather give it another shot in the top flight. Can he do it? Will he be given the opportunity? Only time will tell.