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ELEVEN Saints players are out on loan this season across clubs at varying levels of the professional game. For some, this season is a chance to show Southampton why they are ready for next season, while others are right at the start of their senior career. Here's how Southampton's loaned-out players are getting on this season.
.. Shea Charles Northern Ireland international Shea Charles had a mixed year after joining Saints in a big-money move from Manchester City.
Signed for the future more than the immediate, the now 21 year old impressed in his first few games before eventually losing his place upon Flynn Downes' arrival. Southampton further strengthened their midfield options this summer, seeing Charles slip further down the pecking order, making a loan move sensible. Charles chose to join Sheffield Wednesday, managed by former Saints assistant Danny Rohl.
The move saw him reunited with his younger brother Pierce. Playing in midfield, Charles has quickly won the hearts of Owls fans and has regularly been praised by his teammates and Rohl. With over 1,000 minutes under his belt already, he is reaping the benefits of regular game time.
He has scored his first senior goal and is regularly winning player of the match awards. "He's learning - and this is why it will be so important for him," Martin told the Daily Echo when asked about Charles' loan earlier this season. "Rather than being in and around the first team as an option - because the Premier League is such a big jump - he's playing big games.
He's got to keep going and keep growing." Shea Charles has impressed in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA) Sam Edozie Martin recently reiterated that Sam Edozie remains a part of the "bigger picture" at Saints following his impressive start to life in Belgium. Edozie was close to joining Rangers on loan on deadline day before the Scottish giants pulled out of the deal late on.
Luckily for the 21 year old, Anderlecht were still able to approach Saints for a deal after the English window had closed. As a result, Edozie, much like Charles, is playing consistent football rather than hovering around Southampton's bloated squad as a potential option. The winger has already scored twice and laid on two assists for Anderlecht - including a goal in the Europa League against Ludogorets.
Saints staff have made regular trips to Brussels for face-to-face contact with Edozie in order to monitor his progress. Edozie, Europe. 💫 #ANDLUD #UEL pic.
twitter.com/G81mWi0l3u — RSC Anderlecht (@rscanderlecht) October 25, 2024 Dom Ballard Academy forward Dom Ballard had a difficult 2023/24 season. He joined Rubén Sellés' Reading on loan for a taste of senior football before suffering a season-ending injury.
Ballard had looked good for the Royles but spent most of the season at Staplewood recovering from a patella injury. The England youth international returned to fitness in time for pre-season and eventually secured another League One loan, joining Blackpool. Signed by Neil Critchley, Ballard is now managed by former Premier League boss Steve Bruce.
He has also had to deal with more injury concerns. The 19 year old appeared set for time on the sidelines with a shoulder injury. Surgery was considered but deemed unneeded and Ballard has since returned to action.
He has only scored once in 10 games for Blackpool, who have a wealth of forward options but are struggling towards the bottom of League One. Dom Ballard is still playing despite previous concerns a shoulder injury would require surgery (Image: PA) Cam Bragg Midfielder Cam Bragg made his senior debut for Saints last season when he entered in the final stages of their 4-0 FA Cup win over Walsall. Martin was impressed by what he saw and admitted he really likes Bragg "as a young man and as a footballer".
The 19 year old captained the under-21s last season and was rewarded with a one-year contract extension before he joined League One Crawley Town on loan. League minutes have been difficult to come by for Bragg. He's played just 216 minutes in the league, his action largely limited to various cup competitions.
Cam Bragg signed a new deal at Saints this summer (Image: Southampton FC) Lewis Payne Full-back Lewis Payne is no stranger to spending time away from Southampton on loan. He joined Cheltenham Town this summer, his third loan club. The 20 year old spent last season in South Wales with Newport County and helped them beat Eastleigh, another of his former clubs, en route to an epic FA Cup tie with Manchester United.
Payne has featured in 10 of Cheltenham's 15 games so far this season as they sit six points off the play-offs but also seven points off the drop zone. Lewis Payne spent last season on loan at Newport County (Image: PA) Nico Lawrence Defender Nico Lawrence is another Saints youngster who has had to deal with injury problems during his young career. His loan spell at Colchester United was cut short by a serious injury last season and he has had to contend with fitness issues at MK Dons this year too.
He missed 10 straight games after making his debut against Bradford in August and only played twice since. Lawrence joined MK Dons after a conversation with Martin, who managed the League Two side. Both parties felt playing under Mike Williamson, Martin's close friend, would be optimal for his development.
Williamson has since departed Stadium MK and has been replaced by Scott Lindsey, who started the season with fellow League One outfit Crawley Town. Back to back wins and another step in the right direction, see you all Saturday🫡🫡 pic.twitter.
com/b7lzZ7wPP3 — Nico lawrence (@Nicolawrence73) October 23, 2024 Zach Awe Former Arsenal defender Zach Awe is an imposing figure. Standing at six-foot five-inches, you would be forgiven for thinking his game is built on size and power. However, Awe is a ball-playing centre-back, something which his loan at Accrington Stanley is allowing him to demonstrate.
The 20 year old scored his first Accrington goal earlier this month in a 3-0 win over Chesterfield Town. He drove at the opposition defence before playing a neat one-two and rounding off the move with a tidy finish. His boss John Doolan heaped praise on him after the game: “Zach Awe is outstanding, he really is.
We knew what we were bringing to the club and that (his goal) shows it. “He’s getting bigger, better, he’s physically stronger, he sees the game now. He was always technically good.
" Zach Awe 🤝🏼 Dara Costelloe Prime Barcelona! #asfc pic.twitter.com/fBGBhxw3Ep — Past And Present ASFC (@ASFCPlayers) November 9, 2024 Ollie Wright Goalkeeper Ollie Wright impressed Southampton bosses in the short time he spent travelling with the team following Gavin Bazunu's injury.
The 22 year old was their third goalkeeper at Wembley for the play-off final, playing stand-in behind Alex McCarthy and Joe Lumley. After a stellar end to the 2023/24 campaign with Worthing in the National League South, which nearly ended with a promotion to the National League, Wright got his move to the fifth tier. Wright has kept seven clean sheets in 17 National League games for Yeovil.
Only York City (12) and Forest Green Rovers (14) have conceded more goals than Yeovil (15) so far this season. "The fanbase is brilliant here at Yeovil," Wright said of his time at Huish Park. "I can tell the standard is so much quicker in the National League.
"You can't afford to make mistakes because goals will go in. It's been a big jump, but I feel like I've settled in nicely. I need to stay a steady seven out of 10.
" Kuryu Matsuki Japanese youth captain Kuryu Matsuki's departure from FC Tokyo was met with an emotional response from supporters. Upon joining Saints, the 21 year old was immediately loaned out to Sport Republic sister club Goztepe in the Turkish Super Lig. The midfielder recently scored his first goal in European football.
He fired in late on to help them win 2-0 over Konyaspor. Back in the summer, Martin revealed the plan for Matuki while speaking to the Daily Echo : “We will see how he does at Goztepe. "We spoke to him a good few weeks ago when we got sent the clips.
The ownership group are really keen on having some players they can develop within the group with the aim of coming back to Southampton and playing for us. "Stanimir (Stoilov, Goztepe manager) and Ivan (Mance, Goztepe sporting director) have a good record of developing young players. We will have to wait and see how he does.
” 🇹🇷 PASSION! Kuryu Matsuki (松木 玖生) came on to play 38 minutes in Göztepe’s win over Konyaspor. Both goals were scored in dramatic fashion, coming in the 98th and 100th minutes of the match. Matsuki has been impactful recently, with 2 goal contributions in his last three.
.. https://t.
co/JfqqUhdlNt pic.twitter.com/SqKjbgQmE5 — Japanese Football (@JapaneseFbl) November 10, 2024 Juan Another who joined Goztepe was Brazilian forward Juan.
Southampton had initially agreed a deal for him to join in January before securing his services in the summer. The 22 year old former Sao Paulo man has done well in Turkey, scoring twice and providing four assists, but his future at Saints is unclear. 🔎 Juan (22 anos) é o líder em grandes chances criadas do Göztepe em 24/25! 🇧🇷👏 ⚔️ 10 jogos (7 titular) ⚽️ 2 gols 🅰️ 2 assistências 🅿️ 4 participações em gols (!) 🔑 15 passes decisivos (2° do time!) 🧠 5 grandes chances criadas (!) 🥊 1 pênalti sofrido 💯 Nota Sofascore 7.
05 pic.twitter.com/x4OiYhDbMJ — Sofascore Brasil (@SofascoreBR) November 10, 2024 Daouda Traoré The final player signed in the summer and spending this season at another one of Sport Republic's clubs is Daouda Traoré.
French youth international Traoré is viewed as an exciting prospect at Saints and by those in France. He had already made his Ligue 1 debut before arriving on the south coast and is spending this season at Valenciennes. He has made nine league appearances for the club and played a further two games in the Coupe de France.
🚨👀 Daouda Traoré rejoint Valenciennes ✍️ Le milieu de terrain de 18 ans est prêté par Southampton 🏴 pic.twitter.com/2g1xoYbMZ0 — Instant N1 🇨🇵 (@Instant_N1) August 31, 2024.
