Southampton defender Jack Stephens’ contract expires this summer. On the other hand loanee defender Ronnie Edwards shines. Is it time for the Saints to decide on Captain Stephens?

If you observe closely, Southampton’s recent actions radiate a bold change. A change that might have gone unnoticed, but not completely unfelt.

Still confused? We talk about the way the Saints have turned focus on their defensive department lately.

Note that, be it loan departures or new signings, Southampton mostly kept it defense-centric. Further, the spectacular rise of Welington and Joe Aribo has topped everyone’s expectations.

If this didn’t excite you, there’s more ahead.

Remember Southampton’s first January transfer, Ronnie Edwards’s loan move to the Championship? Well, the 21-year-old is establishing his name in the second division once again.

Within just months, Edwards has become a fan-favorite and an integral part of Queen Park Rangers. To the extent that he has featured in all their fixtures since a transfer, starting the last 7 games consecutively.

And guess what, he recently had arguably his best game in more than six months now. Apart from a defensive masterclass, Edwards added his name to the scoresheet in a 4-0 win against Derby County.

Southampton could be tempted to make big decision on injured star

But, you’ll be surprised to know that Edwards’ brilliant spell might come harsh on former Saints Captain Jack Stephens.

Now, it isn’t unfamiliar that this season has been a forgettable one for Stephens. Firstly poor performances and now back-to-back injuries, the 31-year-old has been struggling throughout.

To make matters worse, his current Saints contract expires this summer. Now, while there’s an easy solution to it by renewing Stephens further, Southampton might feel compelled not to do so.

The reason? It makes sense to try out exciting talents like Ronnie Edwards when even veterans haven’t been any better lately.

After all, everyone can notice an inclination towards young talents in boss Ivan Juric’s setup. Hence, why not add another one then?

David Prutton is one of Leeds United’s favourite cult-hero figures in recent memory, regularly impacting games in League One through his sheer will and determination.

Although he was born and raised in Hull, Prutton began his career at Nottingham Forest. He came through their youth system and made his senior debut in 1998. Over five seasons at Forest, he established himself as a versatile midfielder with a combative style.

That eventually caught the attention of Premier League clubs, particularly Southampton. Eventually, Prutton joined the Saints in 2003 for £2.5 million. He played three seasons for the Saints, making 94 appearances in all competitions.

His aggressive style and hard-working nature endeared him to the fans, though his time at the club also included a lengthy suspension following a confrontation with a referee. All of that was before he joined Leeds ane became known as ‘Jesus’ in West Yorkshire.