There are shades of Harry Redknapp defending a young Frank Lampard here…
Southampton manager Russell Martin didn’t quite say that Gavin Bazunu “will go right to the top,” but he did defend him, and he is backing him.
The 20-year-old Republic of Ireland goalkeeper has endured something of a testing first year at St Mary’s.
Having joined from Manchester City for €14M in 2022, Bazunu went onto experience a difficult first campaign in the Premier League for his new club.
Behind a leaky defence, Bazunu was trying to stop the tide all season and he eventually lost his place to veteran Alex McCarthy for the last six games of the Saints’ campaign.
The Dublin ‘keepers’ woes were exacerbated by a unstable background that saw him play under three different managers. Ralph Hasenhüttl, the manager that signed him, was replaced by Nathan Jones who, as the side continued to languish at the foot of the League, was then replaced by caretaker Ruben Selles for the remainder of the year.
Russell Martin is now the boss at St Mary’s and, in the opening two games of the championship season, he has restored Bazunu as the club’s number one goalkeeper.
Well done Russell Martin👏👏
Strong praise for Gav but also backing him, the best thing a manager can do for a player. #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/7wc1E1KjBc
— 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱 (@SfcAlex__) August 15, 2023
And speaking last night at the BBC Radio Solent Southampton fan forum, Martin backed Bazunu to the hilt.
“We don’t have a problem with the goalkeeper,” Martin responded emphatically when it was put to him that, among other issues, the club need a new goalkeeper.
“We have a full international who is 21 years old and will take some unbelievable learning from playing in the team that finished bottom of the Premier League last season.
“That’s not easy for a goalkeeper, especially a young goalkeeper.
“Alex McCarthy is a really experienced number two and Joe Lumley is a really experienced number three. We have great strength in those positions.
“I’ve been made aware of this narrative around Gav. Last season has happened, you can’t impact that.
“If I was looking to sign a goalkeeper, I would want to go and sign Gavin Bazunu for the way that we play.
The former Scotland international continued: “His mentality and the way he trains… I said after the game against Norwich that he didn’t deserve to concede four goals, it was the guys in front of him. We will learn from that.
“I can only speak from my short time here but Gavin is going to be a great goalkeeper. He is also going to be a huge asset to this club both on the pitch and financially.
“As long as he maintains the standards that he’s had over these past six weeks, we will be more than fine.
“He has really capable people pushing him in training to make sure we get the best out of him.”
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