Southampton have had a decent season in the Championship.
Having completely overhauled the playing style to a more possession-focused approach in the summer there were always going to be teething issues.
This proved to be the case, as Southampton lost four consecutive games early on in the season before it emphatically fell into place as they went 25-games unbeaten in all competitions.
At the point that run hit the 25 mark in early February, it looked as though Russell Martin could steer his side to a top two finish.
However, that was not to be the case, as the Saints’ form faltered at a key time at the business end of the season.
They still have a shot at promotion, though, with a play-off semi-final against West Brom fast approaching.
A number of players within the squad have enjoyed very positive campaigns, with the likes of Adam Armstrong, Kyle Walker-Peters and Flynn Downes all impressing.
That being said, some players have fallen short of what was expected of them ahead of the season.
Samuel Edozie tipped as ‘Player to Watch’ in summer
Ahead of the season starting in early August last year, football fans up and down the country would have been trying to predict how the season ahead would pan out.
The football journalists at The Telegraph were no different, as Jason Burt, John Percy, Luke Edwards , Chris Bascombe and Sam Dean all unveiled their respective opinions on the upcoming campaign.
The four journalists were asked to provide a ‘Player to Watch’ for the 2023/24 Championship season.
Here the likes of Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham and Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney were named, as well as the more obvious choice of Leicester City’s Harry Winks.
Southampton also had a representative singled out in this section, with Sam Dean picking Samuel Edozie.
Dean wrote: “Southampton embraced a youth-first policy last season and paid the price for it in the Premier League, but there is no shortage of exciting talents in Russell Martin’s team and Samuel Edozie, an England youth international who joined the club from Manchester City last year, could cause all sorts of problems for Championship defenders.”
Edozie has struggled to fulfil potential this season
Dean was not alone in forecasting a big season for Edozie, with a number of Southampton fans feeling the Championship would be the making of the tricky winger.
Having signed for £10 million from Manchester City in the summer of 2022, and fresh off the back of the invaluable experience of his first season in senior football, many thought the 21-year-old would kick on this season.
To a certain extent he has done that, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 32 Championship games.
After starting the season slowly, Edozie really found his feet with a run of impressive performances in December.
The England under-20 international had begun to show his ability and was growing in confidence on a weekly basis as he provided three goals and one assist in five games throughout December.
Unfortunately for both Edozie and Southampton, the attacker was forced off against Norwich City on New Years’ Day after a heavy challenge from Jack Stacey.
The injury kept him out for a month and since returning he has struggled to get back up the pecking order and play regularly.
In fact, Edozie has started just once in the past 13 games and that was in the 1-0 defeat to Stoke City when Martin rotated his side.
The former Manchester City man was one of few to impress in that loss, but ultimately he has struggled to live up to the tip of ‘Player to Watch’.
Edozie has time on his side though and will hope to build on this season next year.