Southampton have a maximum of six games left before they know what league they will be playing in next season.
Russell Martin saw his side dealt a real blow with defeat at Cardiff City on Saturday.
It was always going to be tough to secure an automatic promotion spot, but with five points to make up in three games following the Cardiff loss it is a real long shot now.
If Southampton are to be a Premier League club next season then it looks increasingly likely that they will have to go the distance via the play-offs.
Regardless of whether they have three games or more remaining, they will have to make do without both their first-choice goalkeeper and most experienced outfield player.
That is because Gavin Bazunu faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an achilles injury in the warm-up of the Preston win and Stuart Armstrong was stretchered off against Cardiff.
There will still be plenty of twists and turns before the season is over. However, regardless of what division they are in, it is likely to be another busy summer at St Mary’s.
Southampton should not offer Joe Rothwell permanent deal
This season, Southampton have relied heavily on the loan market, but one of these signings in particular has failed to live up to expectation.
That player is Joe Rothwell. The 29-year-old was one of two players to arrive on loan from Bournemouth in January, with David Brooks the other.
The signing came somewhat out of the blue given midfield was not an area Southampton were expected to be looking to strengthen.
However, with Carlos Alcaraz‘ surprise loan move to Juventus it made sense to add another pair of legs to the midfield.
The ex-Blackburn Rovers midfielder’s time at Southampton has been incredibly underwhelming, though. Rothwell has scored four league goals, including a strike that won the EFL Championship Goal of the Month award for February, but these have come via two braces off the bench.
Whilst both these pair of contributions came in dramatic wins over Huddersfield Town and Sunderland, when given the opportunity to start Rothwell has been incredibly disappointing.
In fact, Southampton have failed to win all three times that Rothwell has started in the Championship with two losses and one draw.
Martin spoke glowingly of Rothwell in the wake of the Sunderland win, as he said: “Joe is an amazing finisher. The first one looks easy but it isn’t, it is in the half volley, and then with the second he’s showed great composure.”
Unfortunately, though, Rothwell has just not shown enough to be considered a player Southampton should be pushing to sign this summer.
Given how shrewd Southampton may have to be in the market, particularly if they remain in the Championship, they cannot afford to waste funds on a player who is yet to demonstrate he would add anything to the side.
Rothwell disappointing again against Cardiff
Rothwell came on in the 73rd minute against Cardiff on Saturday with the scores level at 1-1.
He replaced goalscorer Joe Aribo who had put in a strong performance and Southampton certainly looked worse off after the change.
With the nine minutes added at the end of the second-half, Rothwell played 26 minutes. According to Sofascore, in that time he had just 19 touches and completed ten passes; a pass every 2.6 minutes.
To add to this, the midfielder also lost the ball on four occasions. Rather than help Southampton push on for a winner, Rothwell was part of a group of substitutions Martin made that did not pay off.
In the Daily Echo player ratings following the Cardiff loss, Rothwell was given a five out of ten with the comment: “Failed to make an impact.”
Ironically, Rothwell’s only positive contributions so far at Southampton have been from the bench, but in south Wales the Englishman was unable to make his mark.
Perhaps it is best for all parties if Rothwell does not return to St Mary’s next season and both player and club can look elsewhere.