SAINTS manager Russell Martin insisted James Bree is "pushing" Kyle Walker-Peters due to his "all-in" attitude at the club.

Bree, 25, has played 90 minutes at left-back in the last two Championship matches, impressing in the 2-2 draw at Preston North End and 3-1 win over Birmingham City.

They are the defender's only league starts with Martin labelling competition Walker-Peters, a two-time England international, one of the "best players in the league". 

Bree was signed in January last season, by his former Luton Town manager Nathan Jones, having established himself as one of the best full-backs in the second tier. 

However, Jones was sacked just weeks later and he only played three times more under next boss Ruben Selles. 

Asked about Bree's resurgence, Martin told the Daily Echo: "I probably end up spending more time with the guys who aren't playing because they can do more on the pitch.

"The biggest mistake when I was a player was that the guys who weren't playing had no special attention and just trained the same way the starters did.

"That meant they deconditioned a bit and when they got their opportunity, they weren't ready. Our job is to make sure everyone is as fit as they can be.

"They are involved in every bit of training and every bit of detail so that when they come onto the pitch, they are ready."

He continued: "Breezy has been an amazing teammate, same as Joe Aribo - and I have to mention Joe, sometimes I embarrass him, but he's an incredible teammate.

"At some point, I'm sure he'll get onto the pitch because of the way he trains and the way he is all-in every day - he adds value to the team, whether he's playing or not. 

"When you are like that every day, if you have a day where it's tough for you then we can accept that.

If you want to sulk because you're not playing and not the best version of yourself every day... that's the only bit we can control."

Bree has also been the victim of a complete change in system, operating best as a back-to-front counterattacking wing-back last season.

Daily Echo:

He ranks in the top one per cent for expected assists and shot-creating actions per 90 minutes for players in his position in non-top-five leagues over the last 12 months.

In his last half-season at Luton, Bree attempted a whopping eight crosses per 90 minutes - more than tackles, blocks, interceptions and clearances combined.

Bree was dejected when speaking to the Daily Echo earlier this season, in the wake of EFL Cup elimination at League Two Gillingham - his only other start. 

Martin added: "We try to speak to them and give them trust to help them in other areas but the bit we need them to be fully present is on the training pitch.

"If you are not there every day, you can't come into the pitch and perform as well as Breezy did. You just can't.

"It's a good example to the young players here that how you do something is how you do everything. A passing drill is not just a passing drill.

"Breezy does everything with incredible technique, and focus, to the best of his ability. He is a player we really enjoy watching grow his understanding.

"The way he is being asked to play is completely different from how he played at his previous club so it wasn't an easy transition for him. 

"There is a lot more to come from him and Kyle knows he puts a lot of pressure on him, he has a really good player, proven at this level, fighting to go. 

"We now know that he can play left-back, he can play right-centre-half if he needs to, and he has played in midfield in training.

"It's good to have someone who is flexible but it's even better to have a character who is all-in and he is definitely one of those."