Saints fans react to update on Mohammed Salisu’s injury woes
A number of Southampton fans have been reacting to the latest update from Ralph Hasenhuttl on the injury problems facing Mohammed Salisu at the moment.
The Ghanaian arrived at St Mary’s in the summer for a fee of £10.9m off the back of a very strong season with Real Valladolid in La Liga, where he averaged five clearances, 1.3 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game in his 31 league appearances (Sofascore). That suggests the 21-year-old has plenty of potential to be developed into a commanding centre-back in the Premier League.
However, the defender is yet to make a single appearance for the Saints due to a mixture of the form of others in the squad and a couple of muscle injury problems for him. Hasenhuttl had revealed that the youngster was set to start in the Saints’ FA Cup third round tie against Shrewsbury Town, but it has now emerged that the 21-year-old is sidelined with another injury issue.
Speaking to Hampshire Live about Salisu’s ongoing injury struggles so far this season, Hasenhuttl outlined that he has been suffering from the same consistent injury issue which delayed his inclusion in the Saints’ squad when he first arrived at the club. The manager also suggested that the lack of a pre-season or game-time to build fitness has been an issue.
Hasenhuttl said of Salisu’s injury woes: “The problem was that while he was fit he was sitting on the bench and then for the next sessions (he wasn’t fit). This is a problem that we have a lot of injuries from players who do not play all the time and did not have a pre-season.”
Southampton fans react to Salisu injury update
Many Southampton fans are growing frustrated with the amount of time that Salisu has missed, with some supporters questioning the wisdom of the signing and whether he will ever actually break into the side. One wryly dubbed him “the new Delgado” in an unflattering reference to the Ecuadorian former Saints striker, whose St Mary’s spell was ravaged by injuries.
Others were blaming Hasenhuttl for not giving him game-time in the under-23s to build his fitness over the last month or so.
Salisu is never going to play for this club. Just get that feeling he’ll be shipped off on loan in the summer.
— Graham Galton (@galton_graham) January 18, 2021
What on earth is wrong with that young man? Maybe we should have stuck with Danso?
— Pat Welch (@huggins1) January 18, 2021
Is Salisu the new Delgado ?
— Good old British Common Sense (@SnailOB) January 18, 2021
Salisu situation been a complete waste of money for a club that doesn’t have any. Shocking business. The communication on it has been terrible too. Surely we can’t have signed him knowing he wasn’t going to play for months. Not a single minute for #saintsfc
— Scotty Hammy (@ScottHammy87) January 18, 2021
Thats Ralph's fault. Could easily have given Salisu plenty of gametime for the B team, but for some reason chose to put him on the bench when there was obviously little chance of him getting on the pitch (being a CB and Stephens being on the bench too) 🤷🏽♂️
— Stuart Woods (@StuartWoods1986) January 18, 2021
Salisu is going to be another Delgado isn’t he? Always injured, won’t make his debut until about 18 months after we signed him, disappears out on loan for 2 years, then has his contract terminated #SaintsFC https://t.co/h3qzonAbN3
— Rob Price (@SaintRobinho86) January 19, 2021
Pretty lame excuse imo. We have a B team after all #SaintsFC https://t.co/sQSIAPbgAq
— Saint Harris (@LHarrisSFC) January 18, 2021
Was a fitness test not done before signing him ? Doesn't look good at the moment, I'd even say we probably won't see him play this season at this rate
— Overly happy Chappy 😒 (@miserygutscoop) January 19, 2021