Shane Long has had to bide his time at Southampton this season, although he certainly would have been delighted with his contribution in the win over Everton yesterday.
The Tipperary native came off the bench late on, scoring an excellent header with his first touch to wrap up the three points for his side.
82': Subbed on ⤴️
83': Scores with first touch ⚽️
An instant impact from @ShaneLong7: pic.twitter.com/sWiDlah80u— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) February 19, 2022
Now 35-years old, Long is very much a squad player at St Mary's. He has made only five appearances in the league this season, all apart from one of which came from the bench. However, he is still seen as an important part of their squad.
Ralph Hasenhuttl sums up importance of Shane Long at Southampton
Speaking after the game, Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl praised long for his goal and summed up why he is such a key player at the club despite his lack of playing time.
Longy's a very, very important player for our team: he's fantastic in the dressing room, and we're very happy for him.
It's very simple: he's a super-professional guy who works hard in every session.
He's always positive, and he's not always had an easy time, not playing, waiting for his chance. Then in the cup he showed how important he is for this team.
So it's absolutely fantastic to have him on the bench, because he's always ready when he's needed and I know I can trust him.
I think he knows very well what role he has to play now at this age. He's a role model for how you should act. This is the reason why we decided to extend his contract two years ago.
I knew he was an important player in every moment, calm when not playing and supporting the lads, but also there when you need him. And that's what you need from an experienced player.
Long has dropped down the pecking order at both club and country over the last couple of years, although his attitude remains exemplary.
If there is one thing you can say about the forward, it's that he is a model professional and sets an example for younger players in the squad. That type of character is worth a lot at a club.
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