#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl says it ‘Not easy’ choice to sanction Will Smallbone loan exit #SAINTSFC

RALPH Hasenhuttl will be pleased to see Will Smallbone making an instant impact on loan at Stoke City, revealing “it was not so easy” to sanction his exit this summer. The 22-year-old Saints academy graduate has hit the ground running in the Championship, winning man-of-the-match in his first start for the Potters. Smallbone, who played 84 minutes of his side’s 2-0 victory over Blackpool on Saturday, has suffered a stop-start Saints career due to injuries over the last two years. He looks to record a fully fit season for the first time since making his debut under Hasenhuttl in 2020, and will hopefully feature heavily in a 46-match league season. The Republic of Ireland under-21s star was one of Hasenhuttl’s top performers during the pre-season tour of Austria, before his move to Stoke was confirmed on July 23. “I hope to see him playing a lot,” Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo, asked what he wants to see from the Basingstoke-born midfielder. “To be honest, it was not so easy to say ‘you can go’. “He had a good pre-season and especially in this shape on the eight, he was a player who showed his qualities – so it was really not so easy to say ‘okay, we will let you go’. “But it is still tough to get a chance to play here, there are some good players waiting to play on this position so it is not so easy for him.” Summer addition Romeo Lavia, just 18 years old but one of Saints’ best players in their Premier League opener, already adds depth to stalwarts Oriol Romeu and James Ward-Prowse, as well as £12million Frenchman Ibrahima Diallo. After making just four Premier League appearances last season, following his recovery from an ACL injury, the decision was made to allow Smallbone the opportunity to find regular minutes. The youngster is well liked and has some of the best ball-playing abilities in the group, but a Championship season could help him bulk and prepare for the task of a Premier League breakthrough. “For young players especially, it is important to get some game-time, and that’s why we agreed to the loan,” Hasenhuttl added, while Saints typically reserve a January recall option on their loans. At the weekend, Smallbone said: “I loved it out there. I wanted to come out on loan and play some games, and I had the opportunity to do that (Saturday), and it was fantastic.” “I am so grateful to the manager and the club for giving me this opportunity and naturally I want to make the most of this and repay their faith in me. “This is a great group of lads and it has been so easy for me to settle in here – I felt really comfortable out there, I enjoyed it but there is a lot more to come.” Smallbone could be in action again for Stoke tonight when they travel to League One Morecambe, in the first round of the EFL Cup. There, he could face fellow Saints loanee Caleb Watts. A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo. Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website. You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more. Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself. Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News