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Southampton: Should Yoshida replace Stephens for Saints this weekend?

By Marc Walker

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 30: Jack Stephens and Maya Yoshida of Southampton applaud the travelling fans after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Southampton at Old Trafford on December 30, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 30: Jack Stephens and Maya Yoshida of Southampton applaud the travelling fans after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Southampton at Old Trafford on December 30, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /
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Southampton head into another crucial Premier League clash against Cardiff City this weekend with a starting 11 that largely picks itself.

Ralph Hasenhuttl looks to have settled on his preferred line-up and a number of players have emerged as key men in recent weeks to help Saints get points on the board.

However, one selection issue is likely to crop up this weekend with the return of Maya Yoshida to the squad after international duty.

Before leaving to help Japan to the Asian Cup final – where they eventually lost 2-0 to Qatar – the 30-year-old had been the man playing the central role in a back three, but Jack Stephens took on this responsibility in Yoshida’s absence.

With both players now vying for a place in the team on Saturday, who should it be that takes that place at the heart of the defence?

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – FEBRUARY 01: Maya Yoshida of Japan looks dejected following his sides defeat in the AFC Asian Cup final match between Japan and Qatar at Zayed Sports City Stadium on February 1, 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – FEBRUARY 01: Maya Yoshida of Japan looks dejected following his sides defeat in the AFC Asian Cup final match between Japan and Qatar at Zayed Sports City Stadium on February 1, 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) /

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One factor to take into account is the travelling that Yoshida has done recently. The Asian Cup was in the United Arab Emirates and he only arrived to start training with Saints again today.

It could well take him time to readjust to Hasenhuttl’s style after playing with different teammates and in a different system for the past few weeks.

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Jack Stephens on the other hand has looked good in the recent games that he has played and centrally he has used his ability to bring the ball out from the back well.

In a back-three, it is essential that the Centre-Backs connect with the midfielders and Stephens’ distribution has the potential to create some dangerous attacks for Saints.

However, one unfortunate instance last weekend that saw him concede a last-minute penalty against Burnley seemed to draw him criticism from some parts of the Saints fanbase.

Television replays showed that it was a certain handball from the 25-year-old, but it also appeared that he had been fouled by Peter Crouch in the same action and was unlucky to have seen the decision given against him.

Both Yoshida and Stephens are clearly committed players who put their full effort into trying to get results for the club, but they do have different strengths and weaknesses.

Perhaps this weekend will come too early for the former, whilst the latter will certainly be unlucky to miss out if he eventually drops out for his fellow defender to return to the starting line-up.