Carlton Palmer believes Southampton’s decision to sign Ross Stewart has backfired so far after his latest injury issue.
Ross Stewart’s injury woes continue
Over his lengthy career at Sunderland, the 27-year-old was a prolific scorer, helping the team win promotion to the Championship with 26 goals. He also scored ten goals the previous season, but his limited playing time was caused by injuries.
Stewart’s severe Achilles injury prevented him from playing at the beginning of this season as well.
Even so, Southampton spent almost £10 million to acquire the Scotland international, demonstrating their continued conviction in signing him to St. Mary’s Stadium.
The striker was given time by Saints to hone his fitness before making his debut as a substitute in the team’s victory over West Brom last month.
After making one more brief appearance off the bench, manager Russell Martin revealed that Stewart had developed a new ailment that would keep him out of action until 2024.
Carlton Palmer makes Ross Stewart claim
Given that Stewart was about to enter the last year of his contract with Sunderland, it’s reasonable to assume that the amount Southampton paid was a hot topic of conversation.
Though it’s still possible, the south coast side clearly believed Stewart could fire them to promotion, and things haven’t gone as planned.
Palmer, a former Saints player, acknowledged to FLW that it was a bad choice that had so far backfired.
With Ross Stewart’s most recent injury, Southampton is in for some very bad news.
“This was always a risk for me; it wasn’t just a hamstring strain or something; it was an Achilles tendon injury,” the author said. It was going to take him a long time to return to the pitch.
“I know they signed him before he was ready, but I don’t think anyone would have signed him until he had shown he was fit. I think they jumped the gun.
“Achilles injuries are very difficult to heal from, and while Ross is hoped to recover, the damage is permanent. Consequently, the manager suffered a great deal after the team invested £10 million to sign Stewart, and he might have to approach the board to persuade them to provide him funds so he can purchase another striker.
“They’re doing great in the Championship, and they stand a good chance of getting promoted automatically. It is hoped that the board will comprehend that they clearly took a risk, and it hasn’t paid off. A severe setback for Southampton and Ross.
Southampton’s January transfer plans
It is evident that Martin’s team has a talented group as they are currently fourth in the Championship and very much in the running for automatic promotion. Thus, it is not necessary to make significant changes next month.
| Championship Table (As it stands December 4th) | ||||
| Team | P | GD | Pts | |
| 1 | Leicester City | 19 | 22 | 46 |
| 2 | Ipswich Town | 19 | 16 | 45 |
| 3 | Leeds United | 19 | 14 | 38 |
| 4 | Southampton | 19 | 4 | 37 |
| 5 | West Brom | 19 | 11 | 32 |
| 6 | Hull City | 19 | 5 | 30 |
| 7 | Blackburn Rovers | 19 | 1 | 28 |
| 8 | Preston North End | 19 | -8 | 28 |
Instead, if the right player becomes available, it will be about adding quality to the ranks; as Palmer points out, a striker is probably on the radar.
In addition to doubting Stewart’s fitness, the club is unsure about Che Adams’s future because his contract expires in the summer, so this may be the last opportunity to secure a fee for the forward.
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