Southampton manager Russell Martin has opened up about his desire to keep the ‘brilliant’ Ryan Fraser with the winger impressing since his loan move from Premier League high-flyers Newcastle United.
The diminutive Scotland international may have become something of a man out of time at St James’ Park – a relic from the Steve Bruce regime out of favour in a new and bold era – but Ryan Fraser is proving that there is plenty of juice left in the tank on the South Coast.
The Newcastle United loanee is yet to establish himself in Martin’s XI but he continues to make an impact off the bench, Fraser’s pace and intensity coming in handy. The former Bournemouth speedster even scored a 95th minute winner – his first Southampton goal – in the dramatic, 2-1 triumph over Hull City a couple of weeks ago.
And, when asked about Fraser’s future, Martin swung the doors open to a potential permanent move.
Newcastle loanee Ryan Fraser impressing at Southampton
“We want good players and we want good characters. Ryan definitely fits into that,” the ex-Swansea City boss tells Hampshire Live.
“He’s a brilliant professional and he’s been really good for the group. The best thing he can do is carry on doing what he is doing. There will be so much that goes on between now and the end of the season.
Knowing Ryan and his capabilities, would he be someone that we want as part of the project here for longer than we have him? Of course. But he has to do enough on the pitch to put himself in a position where everyone feels the same. Me and him are on the same page.”
“He is really enjoying himself. His energy has been brilliant over the last few weeks. He has been so good in training. He does everything properly, whether that’s a passing drill or a warm-up.”
No future at St James’ Park
Fraser slipped behind Miguel Almiron, Anthony Gordon, Jacob Murphy and the big-money summer signing Harvey Barnes in Eddie Howe’s pecking order at Newcastle. Yankuba Minteh, so impressive on loan at Feyenoord, could also have a big part to play in the near future.
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