Southampton will consider allowing Angus Gunn to make another loan move to Stoke City next summer, if the 24-year-old impresses at the Bet365 Stadium this term.
Gunn departed from the South coast on deadline day, completing a loan move to Stoke to replace the departing Jack Butland. The keeper needed to go and get regular game time after falling down the pecking order at St. Mary’s over the last 12 months.
Southampton will need to monitor keeper’s progress
The 24-year-old had started last season as Southampton’s first-choice keeper and he did go onto make ten appearances in the Premier League (Sofascore). However, following the 9-0 battering at home to Leicester City, Gunn lost confidence and his place in the side after conceding an average of 2.5 goals per match (Sofascore).
The keeper is still thought to be in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s plans for the future, but the Saints are now prepared to sanction another loan move for him next summer, per The Sun on Sunday (25/10; p 61). That though will depend on whether the 24-year-old can establish himself as Stoke’s number one during the rest of the campaign.
Gunn has yet to make his first appearances for Stoke with Adam Davies maintaining their number one spot so far. The Saints will be continuing to monitor the keeper’s situation with the Potters and decide in the summer whether it is worth sending him out on loan again, per The Sun on Sunday (25/10; p 61).
Gunn needs to take his chance to impress
The keeper went into the start of last season firmly in the plans of Hasenhuttl, who had described Gunn as having a ‘big future’ in the past. However, the 24-year-old has now found himself behind both Alex McCarthy and Fraser Forster in the pecking order at St. Mary’s after a challenging first half of the campaign last term.
The stopper has been granted a chance to re-find some form and get his career back on track, but it seems he could have to bide his time to get into the Stoke side as well. If he impresses in the Championship it would be worthwhile sending him out on loan again given he is unlikely to take McCarthy’s place.
In other news, find out what these Southampton fans had to say about the performance of this key player in their win against Everton here and don’t forget to comment below!
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