Southampton 2018/19 Season Player Review: Nathan Redmond

The 2018/19 season proved to be perhaps the most important in Nathan Redmond’s career so far as he rose to became a key man for Southampton.

From the first minute of the campaign, it was quite clear to the Saints fans that the 25-year-old was determined to put his previous year behind him and reach somewhere near his full potential.

2017/18 had seen him struggling with personal issues and having to overcome a rift with some of the St Mary’s faithful.

Despite his enthusiasm that brought rare bright sparks under Mark Hughes from August to December, he had only registered two assists in the Carabao Cup in that time.

Having said that, he had been very unlucky not to score or assist more on a number of occasions.

Perhaps the most telling moment came on the day that Ralph Hasenhuttl was appointed as Saints boss and the team travelled to Wembley for a daunting clash with Spurs.

With the new manager in the stands and watching on, Redmond took on a curling shot from range that would have dipped under the bar on another day – but instead it cannoned back off the frame of Hugo Lloris’ goal and away.

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Hasenhuttl would have seen a lot to work with in his new winger though, and so it proved.

The first game back at St Mary’s was his breakthrough moment when he lofted a perfect cross for Danny Ings to flick home with a header against Arsenal.

Meetings with Huddersfield and West Ham then saw him net his first goals of the season and truly remove any pressure that he had on his shoulders.

With attacking contributions now coming regularly, Redmond would go on to score a total of nine goals and make six assists and show that he could be the main man in Hasenhuttl’s setup.

He does owe a lot to the Austrian, who has successfully converted him into a dangerous and deceptive attacking-midfielder and given him the platform to become a top player with Saints.

2019/20 could be even better for him too.

Redmond’s key 2018/19 Premier League stats (whoscored.com):

Appearances: 38

Goals: 6

Assists: 4

Shots: 74

Successful Dribbles: 91

Key Passes: 52

Passes: 1124