Southampton face a crucial Europa League tie against Hapoel Be’er Sheva this evening, while Jose Fonte’s future is very much in the headlines.
Southampton manager Claude Puel suggested that Jose Fonte could be left out of tonight’s crucial Europa League clash with Hapoel Be’er Sheva at St Mary’s, the Daily Echo reports.
Fonte voiced his frustration at not seeing a minute’s Europa League action so far this season after helping the side qualify for the competition with a sixth-place finish in the Premier League last term.
As a result, it has only heightened speculation that the Saints captain could be on his way to another club in the very near future.
Puel was quoted by the Daily Echo, commenting on his team selection: “We are lucky to have a good centre back on the team with Virgil, Jose, Maya and also Stephens who is an international player with the under-21s. He played just one game also and deserves game time also.
“I think for me I consider the balance with all the players and not just with some players and important players also.
“Maya played very well in different games in this cup and it’s an important player also like Virgil and Jose, and for me it’s important to consider all the team and the collective first time and to respect this.”
Throughout the Europa League campaign so far this season, Puel has opted to pair Virgil van Dijk and Maya Yoshida together, and it could well be the case again this evening.
Puel was also keen to keep the focus on the team and not on one individual in his reply when asked about Fonte.
The Saints boss said: “I cannot give a comment about this.
“When I see this on newspaper I repeat the most important for me is to speak about the team and about the game and not just this personal situation, an individual situation.”
It is hard not to expect this story to run a little yet, but Puel will hope the focus will be on his side getting to the knock-out stages of the Europa League tonight – where victory would guarantee their passage to the last 32.
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