Russell Martin has praised the impact of a player who he feels makes Southampton a ‘better’ team.
The Southampton squad are currently in Spain where they are undergoing an intense week of warm weather training as well as playing two friendlies.
The first of these friendlies has now taken place, with Southampton 3-2 victors over Bordeaux on Wednesday thanks to goals from Tyler Dibling, Sam Amo-Ameyaw and Sekou Mara.
Having beat Eastleigh 7-1 on Friday, Russell Martin‘s side now boast two wins from two games this summer and the Saints boss will hope they can continue that against another French opponent in Montpellier on Saturday.
The ten outfield players who started against Bordeaux played 60 minutes before being replaced by a new ten and it was one of those players coming on that Martin reserved special praise for after the game.
Russell Martin hails Will Smallbone after Southampton friendly win
Given Bordeaux are soon to be a third tier side in France due to financial problems, it was widely expected pre-game that Martin would play a more youthful side on Wednesday.
That is exactly what materialised, with the teenage trio of Dibling, Amo-Ameyaw and Jay Robinson all starting.
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