Premier League: Southampton manager Ronald Koeman backs full-backs for honours
Friday 24 October 2014 13:09, UK
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman is backing the international claims of his two full-backs, Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand.
Southampton sit in third place in the table ahead of back-to-back games with Stoke City - the first a league meeting on Saturday followed by a Capital One game next Wednesday.
Clyne was included in Roy Hodgson's last England squad while Chelsea loanee Bertrand - who won the last of his two England caps in 2102 - has been backed for a senior recall.
Koeman said: "Clyne was already selected in the squad, and now Ryan has had the opportunity to play, and every weekend here, which is what he missed in Chelsea.
"Ryan's still a young player and the best way to develop is to play every weekend. I spoke to him about that, and both are full-backs that I like, because one is defending, but another, if you like to dominate and play offensively, you need attacking full-backs and I'm very happy about that.
"Nathaniel's just got to continue doing what he's been doing - and then do more. You can always do more, but then finally you need the call from the coach.
"And with Ryan he has made a great start and is the same, he just needs to keep going. I was always better at starting things going forward, maybe helping and scoring goals, than defending! But it's great to see full-backs who can attack, it's important."
Koeman can name an unchanged squad from last weekend's 8-0 victory over Sunderland, the club's biggest win since 1921.
"Normally it's possible to make two or three maximum changes, but that's after Saturday - this first game is the most important," he said.
"I'll make some changes for Wednesday, but I don't make too many changes because we don't have that big a group of players and we like to win."
