Southampton are preparing for the play-offs, with the first leg away at West Brom on Sunday.
Russell Martin‘s job has been made slightly easier after the Saints secured a 2-1 win against Leeds United on the final day.
This changed the mood around the club, with three defeats in a row prior to the surprise win leading to growing concerns from fans ahead of the play-offs.
The only worry in that game was that Che Adams went off injured on 61 minutes, however Martin has since provided a positive update on the striker.
The impressive performance was not the highlight of the day, though, as Southampton fans welcomed back Ross Stewart.
The striker arrived from Sunderland for £10 million in the summer with an achilles issue that kept him out until late November.
His wretched luck continued as, after just two substitute appearances, Stewart picked up a hamstring injury that threatened to keep him out until pre-season.
Following Stewart’s seven minute cameo at Leeds, Martin has revealed he has a plan to get the striker up to speed for the play-offs
Russell Martin has a plan for Ross Stewart
Southampton fans would have hoped Stewart would be the man to fire them to automatic promotion this season following his summer move.
Whilst that was not to be, it would be some story if the man who has played just 24 minutes this season makes a telling contribution in the play-offs.
Martin certainly hopes that will be the case and he explained how he has been tailoring training to give Stewart the best chance of being ready to make an impact.
The Southampton boss explained after the Leeds game: “When we played against Stoke last Saturday, he was with us for an hour and ten minutes that morning, training like a beast and getting worked.
“The whole session was built around him doing everything he needs to do in a game for as long as he possibly could.”
Martin indicated that this would continue to be the case, adding: “He’s really good and he’s really open to everything. He’s just desperate to be on the pitch and now it’s about keeping him ready and upping it again this week.
“But we need to do that to the point where we know he is as controlled as he can be and stays fit.”
Stewart goal record makes him exciting Southampton weapon in play-offs
Southampton fans will be desperate to see more of Stewart.
The 27-year-old was bright in his cameo at Leeds and won free-kicks and held the ball up with the Saints sitting deep to protect their lead late on.
Stewart knows that the reason he was brought to the St Mary’s club was to score goals and that is exactly what he has done in the last few seasons.
According to Transfermarkt, in the 2021/22 season the Scotland striker scored 26 League One goals as Sunderland were promoted.
Notably, two of these strikes came in the play-offs, showing he has previous at stepping up when it matters most.
What followed that promotion was the striker’s first shot at the Championship, where he was on an inspired run of form scoring ten and assisting three goals in just 13 games.
Unfortunately, that was the point at which Stewart sustained the achilles injury that would keep him out until he returned, now in a Southampton shirt, in November 2023.
Martin certainly feels the striker could yet be the hero this season, as he said: “He could be a really important player for us in the next three games. He can have a big impact and he’s just desperate to be on the pitch.
“He’s had such a tough time. I feel so sorry for him because he’s such a good guy and such a good pro.
“But now he has a chance to really impact our season at the most important time and I think he will.”
Stewart’s record speaks for itself and if Southampton can create a chance for the centre-forward, don’t be surprised if he takes it.