Five Southampton players with a point to prove in relegation run-in

That is whether it is to remain at Saints regardless of what happens, to secure a better contract elsewhere in a vital stage of their career or to make a move to a top club.

Saints have 13 Premier League games to save their top-flight status. The last time they were relegated from this division was in 2006 and we know what peril followed.

We’ve picked out five players who we think have a point to prove or a myth to dispel in the closing stages of the 2022-23 campaign…

Jan Bednarek

Sometimes in football, you have to hold your hands up and admit you were or still are wrong. If Bednarek goes on a Saints career-saving recovery arc, there will be a few in that position.

The Polish international wound up the fanbase with comments made when he left on loan for Aston Villa and failed to be the saviour Nathan Jones wanted when he returned in January.

And yet, here we are. Bednarek starts every Premier League game and there is not really too many who think he should not be.

It is a weird game, football. For me, the Pole is still the closest to ‘captain chaos’ in the squad and his leadership style – throwing his hands up and gesticulating while vocalising – is not calming.

But Saints have kept two clean sheets in their last three league matches and if they kept just one it would have been doubling their tally for the whole season.

It is hard to imagine a world in which Bednarek starts for Saints again next season but at the same time, it is entirely predictable. What he does in the next three months will decide his fate.

Che Adams

The penny has dropped among the majority of supporters that, in his current form, Adams will not be a regular goalscorer at Premier League level.

He has missed too many easy chances this season and has underscored his xG every year since moving from Championship side Birmingham in 2019.

It is a team game but his misses have cost managers their job this campaign. With the signings of Paul Onuachu and Kamaldeen Sulemana, it felt like his race might have been run.

But then the Scottish international reminds everyone of the player he is – aside from the goalscoring – with a clever turn and assist for Charly Alcaraz on Saturday, on his return to the team.

What he offers in terms of hold-up play and creativity on the last line is largely unrivalled in this Saints squad. If the club go down, he will almost certainly be one who bags a top-flight exit.

After two months of doubt, Adams is a certain starter again. He will either remind fans why they fell out of love with him in the first place or he will raise his stock and secure his Premier League future.

Gavin Bazunu

I have been both critical and defensive of Bazunu. In my opinion, no 20 or 21 year old should be an undisputed number-one goalkeeper in the Premier League.

It is an unbelievably hard task. At his age, Nick Pope was playing in the sixth division, Emiliano Martinez in the fourth division and Aaron Ramsdale in the third division.

Bazunu’s role is as a result of incredibly high potential and top-level mentality, and it is likely Saints could only get the Irishman as a result of their willingness to play him week-in, week-out.

But, by all goalkeeping metrics, he has been the shot-stopper that has underperformed the most – in the Premier League and indeed in all of Europe’s top leagues.

Some data collectors have him conceding as many as 15 goals more than would be expected to based on the quality of chances faced. I’m always sceptical of such science.

But he has cost Ralph Hasenhuttl, Nathan Jones and Ruben Selles concessions, and was lucky that Harry Souttar did not bury his header on Saturday or more questions would be asked.

Bazunu will go on to be a good goalkeeper and he wants to remain the number one this season. Perhaps he has only due to limited options to replace him.

The international will want to end the season strong and show why Saints gave him a five-year deal when they paid Manchester City an eight-figure sum to acquire him.

Moi Elyounoussi

The feelings of some supporters were made absolutely clear when Norwegian international Elyounoussi, coming off the bench, was booed onto the pitch with Saints leading on Saturday.

Despite the fact that all three managers have persisted with picking him for their XIs – for a reason – he is not well-liked due to his lack of attacking flair.

Once thought of as a dangerous and skilful winger, Elyounoussi is actually rather the opposite. He is tactically well-versed, can play multiple positions and is reliable in possession.

However, he is yet to score a goal this season and has only registered one assist – back versus Arsenal in October – and has bigger reasons for needing to perform than fan opinion.

The 28 year old is out of contract in the summer and his future certainly looks better if he can flip the script and show some of the form that he did last season.

Elyounoussi will surely still play a role in the final 13 matches. Whether it is his final few games in a Saints shirt or not, he has his work cut out in some respects.

Mislav Orsic

There is no guarantee that this January signing will get any more real chances to make an impact in his first stint in the Premier League.

Orsic arrived from Dinamo Zagreb at the request of Nathan Jones with real pedigree after scoring in the World Cup third-place playoff last year.

But he has never competed in a league above the standard of Croatian or Korean first divisions. Orsic has featured just for half a dozen Premier League minutes and flopped in his cup starts.

It was an unusual way to introduce him from the off – in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg versus Newcastle United, potentially one of the biggest games of the season – and he has not recovered.

His agent has since spoken out saying the 30 year old is motivated and working hard to pull off success here at St Mary’s.

Supporters were so excited to see the impact Orsic would make. It begins to look more and more unlikely, but we are all here for it.