MANAGER Russell Martin labelled the performance of Kyle Walker-Peters as “really good” despite a 1-0 defeat against Ipswich Town on Tuesday.
Walker-Peters completed the most dribbles (four) and was fouled more times (five) than any other Southampton player against the Championship high flyers.
The 26 year old also made some key defensive interventions to prevent Ipswich adding to Omari Hutchinson’s first-half goal.
The two-time England international was unlucky not to register an assist while the score was still locked at 0-0 when Shea Charles headed his pinpoint cross wide.
Walker-Peters continued to threaten after the break when he threaded a through ball to Che Adams before the forward saw his effort saved by Václav Hladký.
Asked for his assessment after the match, Martin told the Daily Echo: “I thought he was really good.
“He is really talented on the ball. He showed a lot more intensity when out of possession, I thought he was really good.
“That’s where he needs to live every week because he is such a talented player. But he is another one who has carried a lot of disappointment and scar tissue from last season.
“He had a lot of interest in the summer and he didn’t go. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that you see his best performance after all of that happens.
“The way we play suits him so much, he is such a talented footballer. He is a player who will take the ball on any occasion, he is really brave on the ball.
“He will stand up and take the ball regardless of the situation. We need more players to be like that.”
Walker-Peters told the Daily Echo last week that, despite “a lot of interest”, he never made any attempt to force a transfer away from Southampton this summer.
The full-back is rated highly by clubs in the Premier League but has reiterated his aim to get Saints back out of the Championship following relegation.