This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Southampton welcome Norwich to St Mary’s this Wednesday in yet another crucial relegation six-pointer.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men managed to avoid a serious scare against the Premier League’s basement side Watford last time out, overturning a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1 with just 12 minutes remaining on the clock.
However, there is still plenty of work left to do with the Saints still languishing in the relegation zone with 12 points to their name – Daniel Farke’s side are just one point below them in 18th.
Despite the fact that the Canaries are having an even worse season than Southampton, the Norfolk-based side still have a few players for Hasenhuttl to keep an eye on…
Todd Cantwell
The 21-year-old is having an excellent debut campaign in the Premier League so far, often carrying the torch for Norwich behind Teemu Pukki.
Cantwell has scored four goals and grabbed two assists in 14 top-flight appearances this term, while also taking 1.4 shots, making 1.4 key passes and completing 1.3 dribbles per 90 minutes on average in the Premier League.
Additionally, the attacking midfielder has also netted against Manchester City and Arsenal this term, so Southampton must know what Cantwell is capable of before heading into this game.
Emiliano Buendia
The Argentine has been somewhat of an unsung hero for Norwich this season, with his creativity and dribbling ability key aspects of his game.
Buendia tore Manchester City apart earlier in the campaign as the Canaries won 3-2, with the 22-year-old crucially setting up two of his side’s goals.
Furthermore, Norwich’s No.17 records 2.2 key passes and 3.1 dribbles per game in the top-flight, while he is also fouled 1.4 times on average per 90 minutes.
You may be surprised not to see Teemu Pukki within this article, although the Finnish striker is more of a finisher – the aforementioned duo of Cantwell and Buendia will pose Southampton far more problems in the grand scheme of things.
In other Southampton news, this 2018 transfer gamble is paying off for the Saints…
