Nathan Redmond
Nathan Redmond “has the respect from the others” in the dressing room at Saints, explained boss Ralph Hasenhuttl. The 27-year-old has proven to be a divisive figure among the Saints fanbase in recent months, but he shone during Saturday’s victory over Leeds United. Playing as a striker alongside Armando Broja, Redmond provided the assist for the latter in the 1-0 victory. Speaking to the Daily Echo after the game, Broja dedicated his goal to Redmond,
Armando Broja said: “He said to me before the game, ‘just keep working because the goal is going to come today’. He said ‘I’ll make sure the goal comes for you’. He was amazing as well and it was a great run from him and a great pass from him.”
In a separate interview,
Armando Broja added: “He’s obviously been playing in the Premier League for a long time, experienced, he knows everything. In the game he’s a great player to be with because he just coaches you through the game. Tells you where you need to be, tells you to cover. So I don’t feel like I’m out the game. I know exactly what I’m doing, I know everything. He just helps you. I couldn’t be more happy with Nathan.”
And Broja was not the first young Saints player to praise Redmond in recent weeks, with teenager Tino Livramento also crediting the former Norwich City man with helping him to improve. Asked how important Redmond’s experience is among the squad,
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “He is definitely a player who has the respect from the others because he has a lot of experience in the Premier League. He played a lot of games there. I am not part of the dressing room all the time, so I cannot tell you how much they are speaking to the others. I see them sometimes talking. Tino especially is a player who knows very good what he needs to do, but the way he stepped in the team since he was here is a fantastic one and sure all the players are definitely helping the young lads. We have a good mixture at the moment between the leaders and the workers. I think absolutely everybody has to work, but the balance is good.”
Discussing Redmond’s recent performances, and some of the criticism he has received from supporters,
Ralph Hasenhuttl added: “I think Reddy had a tough last season, with some injuries and was never really fit. Now he is coming back to a higher level. We have to give him the trust. Then he has to pay it back. It’s so simple as this in football. He did it, he paid back. I’m always very critical with him. I know how good he can be and I’m not really always happy with what I see. I always want more from him, because he is good. This is pressure on him, yes. But I think he needs this. If he works like he did (on Saturday), automatically his performance is a very good one and then he shows he can help us in the Premier League. This is what we need to have, this quality we need to have. The way that he made the assist for the goal was how Reddy can do it.”
