The Saints has provided an update on the summer signing who has yet to play due to injury. In an effort to strengthen the team, Southampton made several signings over the summer, welcoming eight new players to St Mary’s Stadium. Among them were four permanent signings and four loan deals.
The most noteworthy permanent signing was Ross Stewart from Sunderland, although his acquisition has somewhat flown under the radar due to his injury status. The Saints reportedly paid an £8 million fee for Stewart, with an additional £4 million in potential add-ons.
Despite the significant investment, Southampton fans have had to wait patiently to see Stewart in action. However, it seems that their wait may soon be over, as manager Russell Martin has hinted at the possibility of Stewart making his debut this weekend against West Brom.
Stewart recently played 45 minutes for the club’s under-21 side, and Martin, in a statement to Southampton FC club media ahead of the match against West Brom, mentioned, “He’ll be involved tomorrow.” Martin also tempered expectations, acknowledging that Stewart has been out for a while and will need time to acclimate to the team’s dynamics.
Martin highlighted that Stewart has had limited training with the team and emphasized the importance of using the international break to build up his fitness. The manager expressed optimism about Stewart becoming a significant player for the team in the future.
For Southampton supporters, the update is exciting, considering Stewart’s potential impact on the team’s performance this season. Despite a challenging time with injuries at Sunderland in the Championship last season, Stewart showcased his goal-scoring prowess with 10 goals in 13 games. Southampton, currently in fourth place in the division, is not struggling, but the return of Stewart could provide a boost to their promotion aspirations, especially if he can regain his goal-scoring form in the second tier.