Martin insists Lallana ‘wanted so badly’ a return to Saints to ‘finish his career’

Lallana did not put a foot wrong, completing 100 per cent of his passes, in his first 30 minutes back at the club in the 5-3 Carabao Cup win at Cardiff City. The 36 year old then set up Southampton's first goal of the Premier League season, heading down to Yukinari Sugawara at Brentford. Lallana's last two Premier League appearances for Saints are separated by 10 years and 112 days - the fifth longest gap in the league's history. The former club captain admitted to the Daily Echo, during pre-season, that he harboured nerves about playing in front of his old fans again. Martin, speaking about Lallana last week, responded: "Yeah, we've had a lot of chats, me and Adam, about that.  Adam Lallana did tell me he was taken responsibility for the development of these two when we were out in Girona.Been chatting with them the whole time I’ve been here. The back four stood together separately, another group of young lads together elsewhere.#SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/9PY4PkhVrt — Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) August 28, 2024 "I think when you care so much about something, and he wanted so badly to be here and finish his career, and now it's happened. He also wants to add. "He doesn't want to come back and have people going, 'He's a completely different player and I'm not sure he can help us'. "That is because he's such a top player and a top character. When you care that much, of course, there's some tension in the body that you feel at some point. "I think he's fine. He's looking forward to it. I think he's completely different but he'll be in a really good place where he's trained so well. "I'm looking forward to seeing him on the pitch. I think everyone is and I think having got his first few minutes out of the way will settle him." Lallana is likely to be involved when Saints return from the international break to take on Manchester United at St Mary's, on Saturday, September 14.