MANAGER Russell Martin launched a passionate defence of Jack Stephens after the Saints captain's new role has come under fire.

Stephens has spent most of his career playing at centre-back, but a recent tactical tweak has seen him move to full-back.

The 30 year old has been tasked with rolling into midfield in order to help Southampton play out from the back.

He did this again at Blackburn Rovers, where Saints were held to a 0-0 draw on Saturday, having only registered two shots on target.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Martin explained why Southampton will not revert to their previous set-up unless he feels Stephens' role has stopped working.

He said: “I get asked about Jack’s position and why we are doing it. I spoke to a Sky Sports pundit who thought Jack was incredible on Monday and today. I think the same. 

“I’ve watched some of the top teams in the world play with four centre-backs. It’s not a problem because those coaches are from abroad and have top players.

“For some reason when we do it, there is a big problem. Jack does it incredibly well. The understanding he and Flynn have is incredible.

“We didn’t do it at the start. We changed because it helped us a lot. We struggled to penetrate the middle of the field. When he went in there we did that.

“He really helps because he always arrives wanting the ball. I hope that by the end of the season, he will be appreciated for what he is, instead of looking at him as a centre-half who isn’t playing there."

He continued: "He is more than that. We are so fast in this country to pigeonhole players from the age of six or seven because of their size and profile and they end up playing there for life.

“He’s an incredible footballer and his mentality is fantastic. I don’t see it as a problem, nor is the formation or how we start the game. 

“Some of the build-up today was brilliant. That’s down to how brave Jack and Flynn are. That is why the team looks the way it does and we have 70 per cent possession.

“We aren’t going to change but we will try to keep getting better and finding a solution for the problems we might face.

"If Jack stops working for us in there and the lads don’t get enough from it then we will look at the next bit.”