Southampton’s promotion hopes might just rely on one of the team’s unsung stars.
The goal when Russell Martin took over Southampton in the summer was to immediately return the team to the Premier League.
However, the former Swansea City manager was also brought in because of his alluring, offensive playing style while he was in South Wales.
It was thought that with Southampton’s larger budget, he might start managing more steady outcomes and get the Saints back into the Premier League.
Currently ranked fourth in the second division, Martin’s team appears well-positioned to place among the top six this year.
Who has been Southampton’s season’s unsung hero?
While he may be the team’s top scorer, Adam Armstrong still seems like a forgotten man at Southampton.
The forward arrived for a reported £15 million fee in the summer of 2021 and struggled to live up to the price tag as he delivered two underwhelming seasons in the top flight.
But he is finally delivering consistent goals.
Not only that, but he is also proving a solid creative outlet, providing two assists.
His versatility is also becoming a huge asset for Martin, with the forward capable of playing out wide as well as centrally, and his leadership qualities are obvious having captained the side this season.
Given the injury to Ross Stewart and Che Adams’ own inconsistency in front of goal, the 26-year-old could prove the most crucial figure of all in the team’s promotion push.
A tally of eight goals from 14 appearances puts him second in the entire division in the goal scoring charts.
If he can maintain this level of form, then he will no doubt hit the 20-goal mark, which any club fighting for promotion needs in their squad.
It is not often that a side’s top goal scorer feels overlooked, but with so much emphasis on midfield and improving the defense, it can feel like Armstrong doesn’t usually get the credit his current form deserves.
Even FLW’s Southampton fan pundit Martin Sanders hasn’t quite given him the credit he potentially deserves, having criticized parts of his performance against Birmingham City despite contributing a goal and assisting in a 3-1 win last weekend.
“I don’t think I’d be wrong in saying I don’t think he was outstanding at the weekend,” Sanders told Football League World.
“I think he did well.
“Sometimes when the ball went into him, I think the play broke down a little bit; his touch can be a bit heavy, but he did set up the first goal for Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and obviously he got the goal late as well.
“He’s wearing the captain’s armband.
“He works really, really hard.”
Do Southampton have enough in attack to gain Premier League promotion?
Southampton will have fierce competition to secure a play-off position, particularly as the top two teams are presently securing automatic promotion spots.
Getting back to the top flight in third place will depend on who can mount a potent offensive.
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Leeds United is a clear choice because of players like Georginio Rutter, Joel Piroe, and Crysencio Summerville.
But if Armstrong can keep up this level of play, Southampton should also like their chances.
The idea of what the two can do together as a team should excite supporters.
Stewart showed last year just how consistent he can be in front of goal, scoring 10 from 13 appearances in the championship.
His comeback will obviously be vital to Southampton’s promotion hopes, but Armstrong has shown that even without him, they can compete at the top this season.
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