Ross Stewart ‘will be involved’ against West Brom, says Southampton boss Russell Martin
Last updated on.From the sectionSouthampton
Southampton boss Russell Martin says transfer deadline day signing Ross Stewart “will be involved” against West Brom on Saturday.
The 27-year-old is yet to feature for the Saints since joining from Championship rivals Sunderland in September due to an Achilles injury.
But the Scottish striker made his return to action for the club’s Under-21 side last week and scored.
“Ross will be involved tomorrow,” said Martin.
“We are really excited, he is excited and the players are excited, I am sure he is going to be a big player for us.
“Our expectation on him, due to the time he has been out, shouldn’t be too big and he will feel his way in with us.
“Ross hasn’t had a huge amount of time with us on the grass and this is probably his first full week at training with the team and the tactical detail.
“But he has fantastic willingness to learn, he is coachable and a brilliant person who works so hard.
“We will try and get him on the pitch at some point tomorrow depending on the state of the game.”
Stewart gives Saints more options in attack
Southampton – fourth in the Championship – are undefeated after seven games and are nine points off the automatic promotion places.
Martin recently said his side were still “hunting” the clubs at the top of the table and he believes Stewart provides them with even more attacking depth.
“Ross is massive, which really helps in this league,” he added.
“He is a brilliant goalscorer, who can really run, has brilliant movement, works hard out of possession for the team and can hold the ball up – he has a bit of everything really.
“At the moment he is just short of minutes and match fitness but I am convinced that he suits what we do and gives us a different option to what we already have up front and we are going to need options throughout the season.”
Saints welcome an in-form West Brom side who have only lost once in their past 10 Championship outings and are one place below them in the table, in fifth.
Martin said:”West Brom will be a really different challenge to what we have faced recently.
“They can play both sides of the game really, really well and they have some really top players for this level.
“We will have to be patient at times but equally fast with the ball as well.
“It is going to be a really interesting game but we are at home and in a really good place.
“We have players who are believing and supporters who are enjoying watching their team and that is one of the most important things.”
