Southampton summer signing Ainsley Maitland-Niles will be ‘pushing’ for a starting spot in the absence of the injured Romeo Lavia, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.
The 25-year-old joined the Saints on a season-long loan deal on transfer deadline day in search of regular minutes but is yet to make his first start for the south coast outfit having come off of the substitutes' bench at Molineux last time out.
What is the latest news involving Maitland-Niles?
Maitland-Niles has endured a difficult couple of campaigns in recent years, with six-month loan spells at West Bromwich Albion and AS Roma unfortunately not going to plan.
The five-cap England international has featured from the off in just 28 league games since the beginning of 2020/21 for Arsenal, West Brom and Roma, failing to cement his placing in the starting lineup.
However, the versatile star will surely be hoping that changes at Southampton, and he may have been handed the perfect opportunity to showcase his credentials.
That’s because Romeo Lavia was forced to miss the defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out with a hamstring injury, and Maitland-Niles could be the player to benefit from his enforced absence.
Ibrahima Diallo will be eager to keep his place from the off, though, meaning Maitland-Niles will still face a battle for a starting berth.
What has O’Rourke said about Maitland-Niles?
O’Rourke believes that Maitland-Niles will be keen to break into the Saints team ‘as soon as possible’, and his first opportunity could come against Brentford this afternoon.
He told GiveMeSport: “I’m sure he'll be pushing for that starting spot in that Southampton team right now, especially if Romeo Lavia is out for a spell as well.
“So, I just think he's such a versatile performer that if he is needed, he will be able to do a job for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team. He’s obviously left Arsenal in search of first-team football, so he’ll be hoping he can break into that Southampton starting eleven as soon as possible.”
How good is Maitland-Niles?
Maitland-Niles, who earns £48,000-per-week, has turned out at right-wing, left-wing, and at full-back on either flank alongside his preferred role in the centre of the park throughout his senior career.
As per FBref, the 5 foot 11 ace has ranked in the 94th percentile for blocks and the 82nd for pressures, highlighting his impressive work rate and defensive contributions.
Southampton could be the perfect environment for Maitland-Niles to revive his stuttering career, but Hasenhuttl needs to provide him the platform to do just that.