Stuart-Armstrong-Player

WE ARE only eight games into the season, but at current rate Stuart Armstrong could be on course for his least involved campaign as a Saints player. The Scottish international is now 30 years old, into the final two years of his contract and – like a metaphor for wider matters – looks to have lost his identity within the team. Armstrong has only not featured in one match this season – the 2-1 win over Chelsea at St Mary’s – but most of his involvement (five of seven Premier League appearances) has been as a substitute. Ralph Hasenhuttl recalled Armstrong and gave him 89 of his 295 league minutes when he changed back to the 4-2-2-2 formation for the eventual 2-1 defeat to Everton at the weekend. Armstrong versus Everton (Pic: Stuart Martin) That meant a return to the wide 10 position. Armstrong did not start once when Hasenhuttl operated the 4-2-3-1 formation – Moi Elyounoussi started six matches in a row – begging the question if there is a reluctance to use Armstrong centrally. Asked about Armstrong’s anticipated role for the remainder of this season by the Daily Echo, Hasenhuttl insisted: “Important in the team, like every season in the end. "I think Stuey always had some moments where he was not on the highest level but then he showed his quality immediately.” He added: “Good performances are always helpful and, in the end, it very often depends on the tactic and the way we want to play, that is part of the duels for the selection for the team. “We have to see what we are facing and what we need," Hasenhuttl admitted, three months earlier trying to make a striker of Armstrong during pre-season to fit him in.  The Austrian explained, at the time, this role alteration was to allow Armstrong to continue trying the killer ball but with the safety harness of a full midfield complement behind him. As mentioned, if Armstrong’s current rate of involvement continued he will finish the season with just over 1,400 Premier League minutes. Simply Stu-pendous 🥰How much ❤️ for Stuart Armstrong on his birthday? 🎉 pic.twitter.com/ZyULZjThO8 — Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 30, 2022 Since arriving at Saints from Celtic in 2018, 1,438 (2018-19) and 1,469 (2021-22) remain his fewest minutes racked up across a Premier League season. Last term, he was plagued by a calf injury that ruled him out for three months across two spells in the first half of the season. Otherwise, Hasenhuttl’s usage of the Scot was closer to 2020-21 levels, where 2,775 minutes and 33 appearances helped lend to the bizarre record of Saints not winning a league game without him between December 2019 and September 2022. “For Stuey, every game he plays is important,” Hasenhuttl admitted. “It was good for him to play two-and-a-half games (for Scotland), so I’m looking forward to seeing him more often with us on the pitch.” Versus Everton, none of Hasenhuttl’s starters completed more of their attempted passes than Armstrong (87 per cent). That was not enough to leave many supporters satisfied with his performance, as some labelled him too ‘casual’ and questioned if the work-rate was there to justify his inclusion. You have to look back to June to see some hard evidence of output, when playing for Scotland. Steve Clarke still gives him the majority of minutes for his country. “He had a successful time in a very strong team, I must say Scotland did a good job,” Hasenhuttl reflected, as Armstrong played all three Nations League matches without defeat last month. “I saw the game against Ireland (a 2-1 win), which was really a good turnaround. Finally to be promoted into League A is a massive signal and you can see this is a strong side. When you are in a strong side, this always helps you.” For a man nearing his 150th appearance for the club (142), does it feel the era of ‘we’re so much better with Stu’ is subsiding? If there is a management change this season, does it affect his significance to the team? Let us know in the comments below. What are your thoughts on Armstrong's importance to Saints? 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 just take my word for it - subscribe today. Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook

RALPH Hasenhuttl has credited Stuart Armstrong with bringing the speed and touches that Saints were missing to break down a “very good organized team”. Saints had to go to extra-time in back-to-back matches versus Championship opponents but were eventual 2-1 victors over Mark Robins’ Coventry City. It was a sluggish start from Saints, who failed to put any moves together for much of the first-half – meanwhile Sky Blues were cutting Hasenhuttl’s side with ease. It left supporters inside the ground increasingly frustrated and saw boos ring out on the referee’s whistle, at half-time. However, after Kyle Walker-Peters and Armstrong were intoeeduced during the break their fortunes slowly began to change. Asked to assess the clash, Hasenhuttl responded: “Wow, a very tough start I think against a very good organized team. “Tried to control the game but we did not stress them enough, it is always super difficult to create chances against a 4-5-1. “You have to play very quick and in the first-half we were missing the good touches to speed up the game in this situation or you never stress them. This is the reason I had to make changes at half-time and Stuey did this better, fantastic and also scored a beautiful goal.” He continued: “Then you have to drill them all with patience, the rhythm was coming and it was a little it lacking in the first-half after a long time off. “We added new players on the pitch and in the end the more subs we played the better we did.”

RALPH Hasenhuttl insists that he believes Stuart Armstrong’s best position is “on the 10” but adds it is a boost for Saints that “he is a flexible player who can fill other positions”. The Scottish international made only his third start of the Premier League season during the 1-1 draw with Manchester City at St Mary’s, after two lengthy injury layoffs. The 29-year-old has only played a full 90’ once this entire campaign, having been completely absent from 11 of the 19 Premier League matchday squads through a calf injury. In that time, Saints’ bizarre record of not winning any league match without him on the pitch for over two years continued – although admittedly helped by his injury time introduction from the bench at West Ham on Boxing Day. Saints won 3-2 in the Boxing Day clash at London Stadium (Pic: PA) And while the Scot is still getting back up to full speed, he has been deployed wherever Hasenhuttl needs him – rather than holding down any shirt of his own. Armstrong has been used an attacking midfielder on the right of Hasenhuttl’s four-man banks, utilised as a prong in a three-man attack, as well as filling in as a substitute both centrally and as a right-wing-back with defensive duties. “He played against Chelsea in the (EFL) cup (in October) and he did a very good job on the six (central-midfield),” Hasenhuttl explained to the Daily Echo. Stuart Armstrong made his first start of the season in the EFL Cup (Pic: PA) “On the 10 was his first (Premier League) start this season, I still think that his best position is there. “But he is a flexible player and he can fill also other positions.” The Austrian continued: “This is good for what we need for our team, flexible players with quality. He also showed us in the past that he can score goals. “Stuey was long out because of some issues he had with his body until now and he is coming back on a good level. Hopefully he keeps going.” Stuart Armstrong is a popular member of Saints' playing squad (Pic: Stuart Martin) Saints’ captain, James Ward-Prowse, also commented on the quality that lay there in waiting. “He has been a huge miss for us with his game understanding and his quality on the ball,” Ward-Prowse explained. “It is really high. "He is a great lad and when you get to play with one of your best mates, it is a real pleasure and a real boost for the whole team.” In-between the injury concerns that have slowed his season even up to this point, the former Celtic man was able to play a key part in securing his country a World Cup playoff back in November. They became his last two games before his calf concern sidelined him for another month, but Armstrong made two appearances and provided a vital assist to compatriot Che Adams in their final two qualifying wins over Moldova and Denmark. Scotland will face Ukraine in March, in the World Cup playoff semi-final (Pic: PA) “Every minute you get as a player is helping you to get some self-confidence,” Hasenhuttl added, on his international call-ups. “This is the same for Stuey. “In our squad it is similar, very tough to play from the beginning at the moment because there is a lot of quality that gives you some issues to be ahead of them. “This is what he has in the national team the same, it’s all about showing up, showing your qualities and hoping the manager picks you and you have to grab the chance.”

BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted he had been keen to get creative midfielder Stuart Armstrong up to full speed and added: “He can definitely help the team.” The former Celtic man came back late to Saints’ pre-season training schedule, due to his commitments for Scotland at Euro 2020 this summer. He impressed in Saturday’s 3-1 friendly victory over Swansea, scoring just before the hour mark and then being replaced by youngster Ryan Finnigan after 73 minutes. Asked about Armstrong’s display, Hasenhuttl said: “You also see he is still missing a little bit – he has been in training one week and in one week you cannot train as much as when you come in the highest level fitness-wise. “We must work with him that he is then also able to go longer than 70 minutes.” Armstrong started alongside stand-in skipper Oriol Romeu during the contest in Wales, a deeper role he had been utilised for when Saints were stretched with injuries last season. “I mean we have flexible players,” said the manager. “Ori to have back is important for us but Stuey also showed last season, especially with the ball he is a very good six, who carries the ball very good in the opposition half. “This is his biggest strength – there he can definitely help the team.”

BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl says Saints will have to take care to ensure Stuart…