Will Smallbone was absent from Southampton’s squad in their defeat to Manchester United, surprising fans. Manager Russell Martin made four changes, shifting the formation from a 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3, dropping key players from last season, including Smallbone, Harwood-Bellis, Aribo, and Armstrong. Post-match, Martin explained that Smallbone’s absence was due to a minor injury he picked up on international duty, which led to Ross Stewart returning to the squad earlier than expected. Even without the injury, Smallbone was unlikely to have started the match.

Smallbone was crucial in Southampton’s promotion last season, scoring seven goals and providing four assists in 46 Championship appearances. Despite this, the 24-year-old has struggled to adapt to Premier League demands, which may have influenced his exclusion from the squad against Manchester United, even if he had been fit. Manager Russell Martin, who praised Smallbone as an “outstanding footballer” early last season, might have opted for a midfield trio of Flynn Downes, Ugochukwu, and Fernandes, which performed well initially but perhaps showed signs of fatigue as the game progressed. Southampton’s next match is a Carabao Cup tie against Everton on Tuesday, where Martin is likely to make further rotations.

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