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Southampton 0-1 Newcastle: Premier League – Three Key Saints Players

By Alastair Case

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 07: Yan Valery of Southampton is challenged by Isaac Hayden of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Newcastle United at St Mary's Stadium on March 07, 2020 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 07: Yan Valery of Southampton is challenged by Isaac Hayden of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Newcastle United at St Mary's Stadium on March 07, 2020 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images) /
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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MARCH 07: Yan Valery of Southampton is fouled by Allan Saint-Maximin of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Newcastle United at St Mary’s Stadium on March 07, 2020 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MARCH 07: Yan Valery of Southampton is fouled by Allan Saint-Maximin of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Newcastle United at St Mary’s Stadium on March 07, 2020 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images) /

Yan Valery

The young Frenchman has always received a mixed reception from the Southampton faithful. There has never been any doubt that there is some significant ability within Valery but he does have the tendency to switch off defensively.

Valery has had a considerable time away from the first team and with Kyle Walker-Peters signed on loan in January, there were some raised eyebrows when Valery was preferred for the visit of Newcastle.

The reality is that for the most part, Valery worked hard for the common cause and with the exception of the mistake for the goal, he was unlucky to be on the losing side. However in a tight game like this, it was a frustrating and demoralising goal to concede.

Valery didn’t initially appear under any pressure in the 79th minute but some good work from Saint-Maximin prompted the error which was coolly dispatched past McCarthy. It will be interesting to see whether Hasenhuttl chooses to keep Valery at right back for the upcoming clashes with relegation threatened Norwich and Watford.