Southampton: Can Yoshida help provide defensive solidity?
By Marc Walker
Mark Hughes is facing a defensive dilemma ahead of the opening day of the Premier League next weekend.
Southampton’s 3-0 loss in their final pre-season friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach highlighted some potential issues in both the team’s defence and the midfield.
The central defensive three of Wesley Hoedt, Jannik Vestergaard and Jan Bednarek looked disorganised and slow when coming up against the well worked attacks of their German opponents, so changes may be made ahead of the Premier League opener against Burnley.
Maya Yoshida has only just returned to training following his World Cup campaign with Japan, but got 20 valuable minutes under his belt in the final pre-season clash.
He seemed to have a decent effect in the limited time he was on the pitch; just as he became one of Saints’ most consistent defenders last season in times of trouble.
dark. Next. Pre-season recap: Southampton 0-3 Borussia Monchengladbach
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Over his time at the club, he has gone from being a bit of a liability to a player that the team and the fans can depend upon to give their all. Indeed, he was one of the only players who seemed to rise to the challenge of the previous campaign instead of cowering in the background.
Next weekend may come too soon for Yoshida to start, and the away game against Everton may be more realistic, but he could be a key man again.
In the last games of 2017/18, he was fielded in the centre of the three Centre-Backs and took a leading role to support a shaky looking Hoedt and newly introduced Bednarek.
With the defence being a problem on Saturday, it could be time to drop Hoedt from the side and include Yoshida when he is match fit. His connection with the fans and the club cannot be understated, and he could even help Vestergaard bed into the Saints side quicker.
At this stage, it doesn’t seem like Saints will be active in the final days of the transfer window so it will be down to players at the club to step up and perform; and Yoshida could be a key man.