Maya Yoshida is being tipped to earn a return to the Saints’ first-team when the squad return from their training break in Tenerife.
The Japan international was named on the bench when Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men took on relegation rivals Cardiff City last Saturday with Jack Stephens given the nod to start ahead of him.
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And although the academy product popped up with what looked like a vital equaliser in stoppage time, Cardiff pierced Saints’ rearguard again in the little time that remained to send Saints plummeting back into the bottom three.
Yoshida’s experience would have been vital in that situation and with Saints still leaking goals at the back, the 30-year-old could be a huge asset for the club in the coming weeks.
The ex-VVV Venlo centre-back has been put through his paces during the training camp in Tenerife and therefore looks likely to be in contention to start against Arsenal in the next Premier League game on February 24.
