Southampton fans have been concerned about the level of Tom Fellows' performances for some time.
Since Tonda Eckert switched to a back four, Kuryu Matsuki has pushed the former England under-21 international down the pecking order.
Fellows is still full of industry and endeavour
Despite that, Fellows is still displaying the same level of hunger and drive he showed at the start of the season. He continues to dribble effectively and excite the St Mary's faithful with his attacking flair. What is lacking, and it has been lacking for most of the season, is the end product.
Fellows is yet to score in a Southampton shirt; he has wasted some good chances along the way.
Eight assists in 41 appearances is hardly good value for the £10 million Saints paid West Bromwich Albion for the 22-year-old winger, but Southampton fans know that there is more to come from him.
Fellows' best form of the season has been when he has played in front of a back three. He was responsible for moving the ball forward from deep positions using his pace and dribbling. Defending deeply, Southampton always seemed to have space in front of them to exploit on the counterattack in the 3-4-3 formation.
Ironically, one of those dribbles ended with Fellows putting the ball on a plate for Léo Scienza to score against Fellows' former side, West Brom.
The exciting pattern emerging for Fellows
Assists against Bristol City and Oxford United in recent home matches suggest that Fellows might benefit from playing higher up on the shoulder of the last man.
The assist for Cyle Larin against Oxford was the result of a through ball from Taylor Harwood-Bellis, which got Fellows in behind the Oxford defence. His low cross was turned in from close range by Larin.
Similarly, against Bristol City, Shea Charles slid Fellows into a crossing position out wide, from which the winger found the grateful head of Ross Stewart six yards out to score.
As Eckert's men close in on a playoff semi-final (most likely to be against Middlesbrough), they will need to get the best out of Tom Fellows. Matsuki may be unavailable for any number of Southampton's remaining games, which places a good deal of pressure squarely on Fellows to provide the ammunition from the right.
Saints fans have not given up on Tom Fellows, and he is likely to remain at the club, whatever the outcome of this season.
The Northam End still sing Fellows' name loud and proud during matches and applaud his endeavour. If the Saints do get promoted through the playoffs, Eckert will have found a way to get the best out of his English winger.
Who knows, maybe Fellows' first goal in a Saints shirt will be the one that takes Southampton to the Premier League!
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