We will give Salisu time

Sports News for Saturday, October 3, 2020

Source: goal.com

2020-10-03

Southampton are in no rush to get Mohammed Salisu’s summer signing into action, coach Ralph Hasenhuttle said.

The Saints acquired the services of the Ghanaian from Real Valladolid in August, but so far have to dispense with the 21-year-old in their Premier League campaign due to fitness issues.

He joined training in the top flight starting week and has yet to make the team of the day three weeks into the season.

“He [Salisu] it’s more and more part of our first team training but it takes time, ”Hasenhuttle told reporters on Friday before Sunday’s league game with West Bromwich Albion, reports his club’s official website.

“He will return, but we will give him all the time he needs.”

Salisu signed a four-year contract with Southampton, having been linked to Manchester United, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid and the French club Stade Rennais.

“It may take a few more weeks, maybe [to break into the starting set-up]. After the next international break [in October]I hope to have him in the top eleven. He’s got good drive and he’s a very ambitious guy, “Hasenhuttl told Hampshire Live.

“He’s working hard on his fitness right now after a long injury break and there are some issues we need to work on, but you can see his physique.”

“The potential he has is amazing and he wants to learn fast. He is exactly the type of player we need to have here.

“We have very clear and strict limits on any transfers that we make. We have to have a player who really likes to come to us for money that we can spend.”

“If we find such a player, I am sure he will enjoy it and develop very quickly when he is with us.

“It won’t be a short-term project, it will be more of a long-term project. So I think it was a fantastic transfer.”

Last season, Salisu played 31 games for Valladolid in La Liga, starting 30 of the games, scoring one goal and assisting another goal.

Without being called up by Ghana, the center-back has not been called up for the Black Stars’ upcoming international friendlies against Mali and Qatar later this month due to his form problems.