Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has revealed when Kyle Walker-Peters and Yan Valery will be able to play in the Premier League.
Valery has not played for Southampton in 2020 and Walker-Peters is yet to make his debut since joining the club from Tottenham on loan in January.
Hasenhuttl says that they will be able to play when they can prove in training that they are up to the level required.
Speaking to the Daily Echo, Hasenhuttl said:
Both have a lack of training and games in the last months.
Both must show up and then we can decide.
As soon as they are both on a level, they will be able to play in the Premier League.
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It is important for Southampton to get one, or both, of these players back fit as soon as possible. They are key for the Saints, as they are the only natural right-back options in the squad now that Cedric has left to join Arsenal on loan.
Southampton will need to play a player out of position until they are able to return, as they have been doing with Kevin Danso and James Ward-Prowse in recent matches.
As Hasenhuttl says, it is now about them putting the hard yards in during training and proving that they are ready to play in the Premier League.
With a few days to go until Southampton host Burnley at St. Mary’s, it will be very interesting to see if either are able to make the matchday squad or even start the game, but judging by the manager’s comments, it looks like the duo won’t be quite ready.
His comments do not suggest that they are immediately ready but, with James Ward-Prowse also struggling with an injury, Hasenhuttl could be forced into calling one of the duo into action sooner than expected. Otherwise, it could be another game of square pegs in round holes for the Austrian head coach.
