Southampton ace backs teammate to take second Premier League chance

Armstrong, 26, has scored 12 goals and registered four assists in 19 league games on his return to the Championship for Saints. 

It follows the striker netting 28 in 40 matches in his final season at Blackburn Rovers, before scoring just four times in 53 top-flight appearances. 

Armstrong, who cost £15million in 2021, was unable to help keep Saints in the Premier League long-term but confirmed his hope to stay at the club despite relegation early this summer.

Bazunu, himself celebrating back-to-back clean sheets after wins over Bristol City and Cardiff City last week, backs his stand-in captain to deliver next time. 

"(Armstrong) has been brilliant over the whole course of the season and I have no doubt that he will continue to get more over the season," he told the Daily Echo. 

Gavin Bazunu has been speaking about his Saints teammates

"If you see the chances he has been getting this season and the way he has been taking them. I have no doubt that, in the Premier League, he'd be able to take them." 

Armstrong's form has been keeping teammate and best pal Che Adams out of the Saints team, despite the Scottish international standing out far more before relegation.

Adams looks set for an increased opportunity over the festive schedule, starting against Cardiff, after fresh injuries to Kamaldeen Sulemana and Ross Stewart. 

Bazunu insisted: "Che's a terrific player. He has got so many good qualities. I have no doubt that if he gets more game time, he'll score goals and offer top performances.

🆕 Concentration might not come easy to every goalkeeper, but Gavin Bazunu insists it's: "The easiest part."

Some interesting reflection from him on sweeping too, as stats show his average action is 19 yards from his goalline.

Chat with a man integral for #SaintsFC.

— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) December 4, 2023

"He gives us a different perspective in terms of his physical stature. He’s able to hold the ball up for us really well.

"He's able to make runs in behind and his movement in the box is brilliant. I have no doubt he'll have more goals for us this season."

It is a disappointing setback to Stewart, a two-time Scotland international, who has not started a football match since January this year.

Stewart suffered a separate muscle injury after making two brief substitute appearances following 10 months of recovery from Achilles surgery. 

Bazunu added: "We all know how hard he has worked to get back in. It’s disappointing but I have no doubt that he’ll work hard in his rehab and he’ll come back and be a special player."