Sam McQueen joins Southampton pre-season after long-term injury

Southampton defender Sam McQueen has been joining in pre-season activities with his teammates as he continues his recovery from a long-term injury.

A video via Saints’ official Twitter showed the full-back cycling with the first-team squad as they set off from the club’s Staplewood campus to a nearby park.

McQueen has not played competitive football since 3rd November 2018 when he ruptured a cruciate ligament playing for Middlesbrough. Complications after surgery then saw his road to recovery hit a huge setback.

Via a report from from Jacob Tanswell for Prost International, his contract is supposed to be up but he is being given access to Staplewood facilities to aid his comeback.

Southampton’s McQueen looking for his next career step

Having looked a very decent squad player at times in the past, McQueen will be wondering what lies ahead for him – even though he will be focussed on making a smooth return to fitness first.

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He came through Saints’ youth system and has made 29 senior appearances to date. He also spent time on loan with Southend and Middlesbrough as he looked for more first-team action.

Originally a winger, he has found himself playing as a left-back too in his career so far.

2016/17 was the season where he made his biggest impression. Former Saints boss Claude Puel seemed to like him and gave him 20 appearances in all competitions.

McQueen was also able to play a minor part as Saints escaped relegation the following season, but 2018/19 was the year of his unfortunate knee injury.

Whether or not he will be able to fit into what Saints are now building is unknown, but it is certainly good to see the club continuing to aid his career despite his contract being up at the beginning of this month.

The mentality of academies all around the country – none more so than Saints – will be to make sure players have a career in football even if they do not make the grade and have to leave for pastures new.