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Southampton: Jan Bednarek offers Mark Hughes a selection dilemma

By Chris Hughes

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 19: Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City is challenged by Jan Bednarek of Southampton during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Southampton at The King Power Stadium on April 19, 2018 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 19: Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City is challenged by Jan Bednarek of Southampton during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Southampton at The King Power Stadium on April 19, 2018 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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Following his performances across the last three games, Southampton defender Jan Bednarek has given his manager a selection headache.

Some Saints supporters – myself included – were nervous when Jack Stephens got suspended, as it meant that if Mark Hughes were to deploy the same five-at-the-back formation that the Polish defender would have to deputize.

However, the 22-year-old has proved all of his doubters wrong with three consistent and impressive performance at the back, playing alongside Wesley Hoedt and Maya Yoshida in defence.

While the Saints haven’t strictly won any of these games and it therefore may seen foolish to praise a centre-back, the youngster hasn’t been at fault for any of the goals against Chelsea and helped keep Southampton their first clean sheet in some time against Leicester City.

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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – APRIL 14: Jan Bednarek of Southampton scores his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary’s Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – APRIL 14: Jan Bednarek of Southampton scores his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary’s Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /

With Stephens now having served his three-match suspension, he is once again available for selection ahead of the Saints’ four remaining games of the campaign. However Mark Hughes will now have a tough decision on his hands, because as it stands the most-likely candidate to be dropped is Wesley Hoedt.

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Bednarek’s form however poses a lot more questions than it does answers, with the biggest being as to why Mauricio Pellegrino had such little faith in the Polish international.

The Argentine played the defender just twice – in the cup against Wolves in August and in the FA Cup against Fulham in January. In the latter, he was also played in his unnatural position at right-back.

However since joining the starting XI the youngster has looked comfortable and poised, much better than his last centre-back appearance in the aforementioned Carabao Cup defeat to Wolves.

Whether this has something to do with his exposure with the Under-23’s, or perhaps even the impact of Mark Hughes, it’s great to see the summer signing enjoying such a purple patch in the first team.

If we’re to assume the worst and that the Saints get relegated, they’re almost certainly going to lose some of their key players as an ex-Lazio man Hoedt is probably one of them.

With that in mind Bednarek could get more much first-team football next season, perhaps next to Jack Stephens with Yoshida as an experienced back-up. Whilst this thought process is for another day, it’s only positive to see the young Polish defender improving.