The numbers do not lie for Shane Long at Southampton this season. On Saturday, he came off the bench for his 20th substitute appearance of the season. That's more than double the number of league games which he has started. It's telling of the role which Long has played for manager Claude Puel.
Long has been behind both Charlie Austin and Manolo Gabbiadini in the pecking order at St. Mary's this season.
After Saturday's goalless draw between Southampton and Hull, Puel was asked about Long's future at the club. It appears that if Long does remain at the club, he could have further competition for a starting place.
Puel told the Southern Daily Echo:
We will see all this at the end of the season.
Of course, a striker, all the players, want to play, but it’s another profile like then Gabbiadini for example.
He has quickness and he can give other solutions. We will see if we have the opportunity to have a different profile striker and we will see until the end of the season and after another thing.
We will see at the end of the season.
Just last summer, off the back of a season where he hit double figures in the league, Long was given a new four-year deal at the club. This season, disappointingly, he has been far less prolific in front of goal - he's scored just three times in the league and five times in all compeititions.
Now 30, the Tipp man needs to be playing first team football. When asked if he has spoken to Long about his future, Puel was quick to evade the question.
It’s not the moment to speak, to have conversations about this.
All the player stay with a good concertation, a good focus, about the last five games now and it’s important to speak in the good moment. This is not a good moment for me.
It’s important to finish with five good and strong games.
Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
