Saints fans react to Ralph Hasenhuttl's team news hints for West Ham

A number of Southampton fans debated whether Ralph Hasenhuttl is making the right decision ahead of the Saints’ clash with West Ham this vening after he revealed that Jack Stephens will maintain his place ahead of Mohammed Salisu, as per Hampshire Live.

The Saints are facing the tough prospect of being without arguably one of their best performers of the season so far, with Jannik Vestergaard having missed the game against Fulham and set to be ruled out of the next few matches through injury. That left Hasenhuttl with a decision over who to choose in his place at Fulham and it was Stephens who got the nod.

That left Salisu still waiting to get his chance to impress from Hasenhuttl, although the Southampton manager revealed that the FA Cup tie with Shrewsbury Town next month is the game in which he plans to use the youngster. The 21-year-old was a £10.9m signing in the summer but it seems that Hasenhuttl won’t rush him into the first team line-up.

Stephens helped the Saints record a clean sheet against Fulham, making three tackles and five interceptions (Sofascore). The 26-year-old duly illustrated that he can be a reliable stand-in for Vestergaard, so it’s not hard to see why the manager plans to keep faith in him.

Saints fans react over Hasenhuttl’s omission of Salisu

Many Southampton fans were keen to stand by the Austrian’s decision and believe that Stephens did well enough to keep his place in the side, although some questioned why Salisu is not getting the game-time they would have envisaged when he signed.

Maybe because Stephens had a good game at the weekend, is more experienced than Salisu, and Salisu hasn’t played a single match since April? We’ve got lower league opposition in the cup in a couple of weeks, No doubt that’ll be Salisu’s first game. Perfect opportunity for him.

— Liam (@Liam_MH1) December 28, 2020

https://twitter.com/book_perez/status/1343552179668303873?s=19

Probably style over anything from what i have seen of salisu he seems to be more of a defender like bednarek than a ball playing one which is something jack is maybe better or more suited towards. So the team are able to keep on playing with similar automitism as ralph calls it

— Joe Smith (@HoseAandHoseB) December 28, 2020

Because he’s a young developing player we signed, not a finished article. Was always the case. No idea why people who have never seen him play seem so deserpate to rush him in. That’s the baffling thing.

— Sean (@Sean_MSt) December 28, 2020

He was signed with his potential in mind, never to be a first team starter in the first 6m. We have a rough diamond that will take time to adapt to our style of play, and then to the team, and finally to the premier league. Expect less than 10 appearances this year.

— Dubious Pip (@DubiousPip50) December 28, 2020

No need to rush a raw CB into a squad that has 2 solid CBs already. I don't understand why so many people are begging for him to start when Vestergaard and Bednarek have been playing very well together. And Jack and Jan have 30+ games together. Let him settle into the system

— Zack (@Zack_Benjy) December 28, 2020