Simon Rusk confesses squad continuity remains a stumbling block in rare first-team opportunities for Welington, similar to defender Sugawara's case.
Accept it or not, but Southampton's recent few months have been just speculations about crossing Derby's lowest total. What's intriguing is that at one stage, they seem close to the objective, yet too far in another.
Well, analogically, in this topsy-turvy situation, the Saints seem simply represented by their defender, Yukinari Sugawara's fate.
In case you missed it, Southampton's recent King Power Trip was Sugawara's third consecutive squad exclusion in a row. And honestly, a harsh one for the fullback who had been an exciting prospect earlier this season.
But if this broke your hearts, Southampton fans, be prepared for what's to come next. This is because, though going unnoticed, another Saints defender is drawing on Sugawara's misery.
If you haven't guessed it even now, we talk of Southampton's once-called best winter signing, Welington.
Clearly, from impressive shoutouts in his initial Saints games to now being far from the starting lineup, it couldn't have gone any worse for him. And what's more stressful, similar to Sugawara's case, Welington is getting compromised not for his part but for the Saints' squad consistency issues.
Simon Rusk's squad approach costs Welington crucial game time
Recently, speaking to the Daily Echo, the interim boss, Simon Rusk, broke the silence on Welington's negligible game time opportunities, saying: "He's definitely not doing anything wrong from that point of view. It's a case of me just finding a bit of continuity as well."
Notably, a consequence of Rusk's risk-free, rigid squad planning approach has seen the trio Harwood-Bellis, Jack Stephens, and Bednarek start every time, leaving little room for Welington in defence. Adding to it has been Manning's and Walker-Peters' consistency, keeping him far from contending even for a wide midfield role.
But honestly, the truth being spoken, Welington's precedence doesn't seem to be improving, at least this season. Given Rusk's focus fixed on Derby's record, the manager will further cut risks, let alone try him.
It all calls for a bit more patience from Welington in his Saints career. Maybe with a new boss arriving soon, the fullback can reach his potential.