Southampton: Do Saints need to sign another Right-Back?

As Southampton released second-choice Right-Back Jeremy Pied at the end of the 2017/18 season, it became clear that they needed a replacement before the beginning of the next campaign.

Mark Hughes currently has only Cedric as a natural in this position in Southampton’s squad, but will need other options to call upon throughout his first full season in charge.

Part of creating a competitive squad is having two strong options for each position so that replacements are easily available following injuries or poor form. This in turn brings the best out of the individuals, and can push a team to higher levels.

During this pre-season so far, Cedric has been at the World Cup and other have had to play the Right Wing-Back role that he normally occupies. Harrison Reed and James Ward-Prowse have played there against Schalke and Jiangsu Suning whilst Yan Valery played at Centre-Back.

Each have played the position with varying success, so have Saints got the cover they need already at the club?

Next: Could Saints sell Wesley Hoedt this summer?

KUNSHAN, CHINA – JULY 05: James Ward-Prowse of Southampton FC looks on during the 2018 Clubs Super Cup match between Schalke and Southampton at Kunshan Sports Center Stadium on July 5, 2018 in Kunshan, Jiangsu Provinceon, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) /

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Reed is a defensive-midfielder by trade but played at Right-Back for Norwich at times last season. 13 of his 43 appearances for the Norfolk club came at either Full-Back or Right-Midfield; perhaps proving his ability to play the Wing-Back role for Saints.

Against Schalke and Jiangsu Suning, he got forward well whilst supporting the defence when he had to. He scored Saints’ second goal against the German club with after an intelligent run to latch onto a Jordy Clasie pass.

Ward-Prowse has not progressed well enough to be given a consistent Central-Midfield role in the past two seasons and so adapted his game to play a wide attacking-midfield role that can make the most of his crossing ability.

He’s played three times as a Full-Back in his Saints career and possesses good defensive work-rate, but maybe not the tackling ability or pace that a defender needs to have when one-on-one.

Yan Valery was a regular starter for the club’s U23s side last season and has progressed from the u18s since joining Saints from Rennes in 2015.

As the only other orthodox Right-Back at the club, he would be another option but played well as Centre-Back in China, and the club may feel that he still has some developing to do at the age of 19.

With these three players however, it can certainly be argued that a new Right-Back isn’t needed by Saints. With Valery more likely to stay with the u23s for 2018/19, Harrison Reed and James Ward-Prowse could be all the team need behind Cedric.

Both players may see this as negative for their careers with both presumably preferring natural midfield roles, and Reed may still leave the club on-loan again for the season.

If they warm to the idea though, they will be covering a key area and – in Reed’s case – potentially getting increased time on the field for his parent club.