McQueen has filled in at left-back in the absence of Ryan Bertrand and Matt Targett in recent games against Inter Milan and Manchester City.
Southampton captain Jose Fonte was full of praise in an interview with the club’s official website for Sam McQueen after the left-back’s first Premier League start against Manchester City.
McQueen had played three days earlier in the Europa League defeat to Inter Milan and in both games he acquitted himself well. With both Ryan Bertrand and Matt Targett sidelined, it appears McQueen has taken his opportunity with both hands.
Fonte told the official Southampton website: “Well done to him, credit to him for the work he has done. I hope he can keep doing what he is doing.
“He needs to keep improving, because he’s been a very good surprise.
“We need him at the moment, we need to do everything for him to make sure he’s comfortable and confident.”
The 21-year-old looked very calm in both games, both in possession and off the ball. What was striking was just how well he fit into Southampton’s shape and operated like a professional of many years. If someone who had not watched much of Southampton in the past few seasons saw both games they could be forgiven for thinking that McQueen is a little older and a lot more experienced.
Prior to that he played well when he replaced Targett in the win over Burnley and won a penalty which Charlie Austin scored in the 3-1 win.
It has been a promising start to life in the first-team for McQueen and everyone at the club will hope he can sustain this form for a good while yet.
Not only does it mean that he is playing well, but when Bertrand and Targett return from their injuries, it would present manager Claude Puel with a nice selection headache given there will be some great competition for that role.
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