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Southampton midfielder Will Smallbone has handed the South Coast club a big injury boost after returning to training this week in time for the Premier League trip to face holders Manchester City at the weekend. Smallbone posted a photo of himself online while he was in Southampton training. According to him, it is good to be back after a long injury layoff.
Smallbonesustained the dreaded anterior cruciate ligament injury in the Premier League defeat to Leicester City in January. He picked up the long-term injury during the game which ended 2-0 to Leicester City at the expense of the Saints.
Young Saints midfielder Smallbone could make his first appearance of the season when manager Ralph Hassenhuttl takes his players to the Etihad Stadium to face the champions on Saturday.
Smallbone, 21, came through the ranks at Southampton before making his debut for the first team at the end of the 2019/20 campaign. He signed a new four-year deal with the Saints last summer. The midfielder was restricted to just three appearances last season due to the abovementioned injury.
Young midfielder Smallbone has scored once in 13 games for Southampton with his lone goal coming during the 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town in their FA Cup clash in January 2020.
Southampton fans would be hoping that the return of Smallbone from injury would boost results on the pitch with the club still waiting for the first three points of the new league season. Southampton have drawn their last three games in the Premier League on the back of the opening weekend defeat at Everton. Their quest to win the first three points of this season will take them to Manchester this weekend. In the corresponding fixture last season, Manchester City scored five times as they beat Southampton 5-2 with the likes of RiyadMahrez and Kevin De Bruyne on the scoresheet.