Burnley 1-1 Southampton: Premier League – Three Match Takeaways

Could the lack of recruitment come back to haunt Southampton?

For some pundits, the decision to trim the squad in January rather than bring in any new players was laudable and reflected well on Ralph Hasenhuttl. The squad was unquestionably bloated and by freeing up a few places in the squad, it felt perfectly poised for a couple of quality imports to refresh proceedings at St Mary’s.

Yet despite constant links to players including Che Adams and Jean-Kevin Augustin, there were no incomings to the club, a decision which could be problematic if there is a spate of injuries. With Danny Ings limping off again at Turf Moor, a potentially lengthy layoff will put a lot of pressure on Nathan Redmond to provide goals.

Moreover, with James Ward-Prowse preferred to Yan Valery at right wing back, it does not suggest that Hasenhuttl is yet to have complete confidence in Valery or Kayne Ramsay. Although both youngsters have shown a degree of promise, recruiting an experienced right back must surely be a priority in the summer window.

In some respects, one could argue the squad has gone from bloated to being a couple of injuries away from being heavily exposed. With a overhaul expected in the summer, the Southampton hierarchy will hope that Hasenhuttl keeps the team up comfortably before being allowed the chance to put his own stamp on the squad.