Three players who Southampton must keep if they are relegated

Southampton face a hugely tense run-in towards the end of the season, with time running out on their bid to avoid the drop down to the Championship.

It’s been grim viewing for Saints fans in the 2017/18 campaign. The team have won only five Premier League games and have accumulated the highest total of draws in the division, with 14 to their name.

Four games remain for Mark Hughes and his men and although survival remains a possibility for Saints, they are four points adrift of 17th place with the odds are firmly stacked against them.

As with most teams who succumb to relegation from the English top flight, a summer of major upheaval could be on the cards at St Mary’s, with numerous players likely to be offloaded if the club drop down to the Championship.

This comes as good news to many, given the growing displeasure from the Southampton faithful towards the current group of players’ attitudes. However, there are some names who Saints really should be aiming to keep hold of.

There are only a select few players who have proven their worth in what has been a bleak campaign for Saints, but they are the ones who could be instrumental in helping the club climb back up to the Premier League if they do indeed fall short of the mark this term.

Here are three players who Saints simply have to keep if they go down.

Alex McCarthy

It’s not been plain sailing for McCarthy, with Saints continuing to slide down the table as a result of their leaky defence. The 2016 summer signing hasn’t been performing badly as such but has seen the players ahead of him capitulate all too often this season, leaving him exposed and helpless to prevent Saints’ struggles at the back.

McCarthy has, however, contributed with a more positive impact than Forster had done earlier on in the season. The 28-year-old commands his box and claims crosses with relative ease; a feature of Forster’s game which was always lacking during his stint as Saints’ starting ‘keeper.

He has made a number of good saves since being drafted into the starting line-up but has been given little to no chance by Saints’ rather horrendous defensive unit. The team’s demise has been uncontrollable and despite McCarthy’s best efforts, he has been unable to keep the goals out.

The former Reading goalkeeper has more than enough ability to be a high-level, Championship goalkeeper, though. Southampton will be hard-pressed to find a player with the same experience and quality if they do succumb to relegation and with interest unlikely to be high, McCarthy should absolutely be kept.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

As aforementioned, Southampton don’t really have many players who will come away from the 2017/18 season with an ounce of credit to their name. Hojbjerg, however, is one who can hold his head high.

The Danish international has arguably been Saints’ player of the season. In a terrible season, he has been the shining light and has turned in a number of good displays in the midfield.

Hojbjerg found it hard to break into the first-team near the start of the season but has since become an integral part of the starting line-up. His decision-making on the ball remains questionable but his aggressive nature when pressing, his ability to pick forward passes and his determination to drive the team forward has been refreshing to see.

Nobody could blame Hojbjerg if he opted to seek a move away from St Mary’s this summer, but it’d be brilliant to see the former Bayern Munich star stay put if Saints do go down, as he could well be a Southampton legend one day.

Charlie Austin

Southampton have only had one natural goalscorer over the course of the last two seasons and that’s Charlie Austin.

Once again this term, Austin has been plagued by injuries and has found stringing together a consistent run of games difficult. He was out of action from December until March yet remains the club’s leading goalscorer for the season.

Austin’s tendencies to pick up long-term injuries is truly frustrating given his undeniable and proven ability in front of goal. He misses chances but more encouragingly, finds dangerous positions in the area like most of the Saints’ strikers fail to.

Southampton play better when Austin is fit and in the side, as depicted by how he has made only six starts this season but has contributed with seven goals. He has excellent instincts, his positioning is good and his finishing is generally impressive.

He may not be able to give you a full season due to his injury woes but a fit Charlie Austin scores goals. Saints will need that kind of reliability if they are playing Championship football next season.