NEW Saints manager Nathan Jones has expressed his excitement at finally working with something of a full squad as Tino Livramento and Kyle Walker-Peters prepare for their respective returns while Armel Bella-Kotchap and Mohammed Salisu rejoin the group following their World Cup participation.
While there were a number of factors that led to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s dismissal, the Austrian wasn’t helped by the spate of injuries his side suffered with Livramento sidelined since April before Walker-Peters tore his hamstring in the 1-0 win at Bournemouth.
Bella-Kotchap missed time with a shoulder dislocation while revelation Romeo Lavia was also forced out of action for two months with a hamstring problem of his own.
"There's been a real buy-in" 🤝#SaintsFC boss Nathan Jones reflects on the week in Spain:
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 12, 2022
Now though, as Jones and his side prepare for the return of the Premier League with a training camp in Spain, the squad is looking far healthier than at any other point this season.
“They’re really important for us and seeing Romeo Lavia playing and back at it is really good,” Jones told the club’s media team of the previously injured contingent.
“We’ve welcomed back the World Cup boys on Monday so the group is looking a lot stronger and we’re excited to work with it. It’s a really talented group, it is, so we have to make sure we improve certain levels that really need improving and try to get as much as out of them as they can.
“These lads can play he want to play, they can play how most managers want because they’re really athletic and have technical ability, so we have to harness that.”
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