SAINTS defender Ryan Manning admitted he believed the pressure was off when he was finally given a chance to reclaim his starting spot.

Manning, 28, made 40 appearances, including featuring in all three play-off matches, as Saints won promotion to the Premier League last season.

But long-term manager Russell Martin left the Republic of Ireland international out of the squad entirely for the first six league games this campaign.

It was only after a 3-1 defeat at AFC Bournemouth, in which Martin had made a handful of unsuccessful changes to his team, that Manning was reintroduced.

Manning has started each of the last five, setting up a goal against Leicester City and seeing one incorrectly ruled out by VAR in the defeat at Wolves.

“The gaffer wasn’t happy with the Bournemouth game. I suppose for people not playing some opportunities can come from that," said Manning. 

Ryan Manning would be a Premier League goalscorer - but for VARRyan Manning would be a Premier League goalscorer - but for VAR (Image: PA)

“I had a chat with him and he half gave me an idea of what he was thinking. I was chucked in at the deep but it was a long time coming.

"The couple of months that I was not involved helped because I had nothing to lose. There was no pressure in my mind - I was grateful to get the opportunity.

"The worst case was I was just going to go back to where I was, as bad as that might sound, but it was freeing. You can just go out there and try to grasp it."

Manning has started each match in a hybrid wing-back role, sometimes doubling up on opposition attackers with captain Jack Stephens.

The former Swansea City man could be in line to start again against Liverpool on Sunday, where he would be up against Mohamed Salah.

Less than two months ago he was starting in holding midfield for the under-21s at Staplewood, as they took on Norwich City's academy in Premier League 2.

“It was brilliant for me. You can easily become used to not playing games, just training and get into that rut," said Manning. 

"When the opportunity came to play, I was happy to do it. It’s minutes in the tank and you keep that match fitness that you can’t really get from training.”

Manning did not hold any grudge about being left out of the squad by the boss who had managed him for three seasons and signed him at Saints. 

“I was under no illusions that you were just going to walk into the team. No one has a place in the squad just on merit," he insisted. 

“You have to earn it every week by training and performing when you get the opportunity. It was a challenge that probably hadn’t come up in my career.

"It was 3pm on a Saturday and I was watching on my phone or on TV. It was a bit strange. With everything, when the challenge comes you have to embrace it.

“There were opportunities but I’d spent nearly 10 years trying to get back to the Premier League, trying to get back there.

“For me, I wasn’t just going to walk away at the first hurdle that came my way. I was never going to walk away. I wanted to stand up to it.

“I always thought I was good enough, I always thought I could grasp it if the opportunity came. I had belief in myself that I could somehow worm my way back in.”