RALPH Hasenhuttl has admitted he is hopeful that integral Stuart Armstrong has “now reached a point where he is more stable”, following an impossible start to the season with injury.
The Scottish international had a persistent calf muscle concern that sidelined him so much so he only played 134 minutes of action across the first 18 matches of the Premier League.
Incredibly, the record of Saints not winning a league game since December 2019 without him featuring continued thanks to a one-minute cameo at West Ham’s London Stadium on Boxing Day.
The 29-year-old has shaken off that injury to now feature in all five of Saints’ matches since the turn of 2022, starting three and celebrating his first goal of the campaign with the stunner versus Coventry City.
The hope is that this is the start of a settled run in Hasenhuttl’s number 10 role.
“It was always the same leg with muscle injuries and hopefully we have now reached a point where he is more stable,” Hasenhuttl said, speaking after the FA Cup fourth round win.
Thing of beauty from Stuart Armstrong #FACuppic.twitter.com/al8mN4aeXm
— Gary Taphouse (@garytaphouse) February 6, 2022
“We still have to balance the game-time for him. I think that’s important.
“But we always see how important he is for our game when he’s on the pitch, especially in this 10 position. He’s so flexible, he has runs with the ball and around the box is always dangerous for a goal.”
He added: “This is an absolutely important quality we are missing when he’s not there.”
Saints’ record with and without Armstrong might well be coincidental, but it’s also absolutely remarkable.
Saints have played, not including the 8-0 training exercise victory over League Two Newport County, 26 competitive matches in the 2021-22 campaign.
In matches in which Armstrong has not played (14), Saints have taken six losses, eight draws (including Sheffield United in EFL Cup) and zero wins.
In matches in which Armstrong has either started or been a used substitute (12), Saints have taken one loss, four draws (including Chelsea in EFL Cup) and seven wins.
That is not even to say that Armstrong has played especially well this season. With him gearing up to full fitness after such a lengthy layoff, some performances have been rusty.
But if it is not pure coincidence, then it must be something the former Celtic man offers to make Saints tick.
Hasenhuttl was posed with the question, ‘is Stuart Armstrong the most underrated player you have managed?’
“I think he must also be a little bit more continuous with his performances,” he responded.
“Some moments he has very good games and in others he is a little bit under the radar.”
The Austrian added: “But I know what quality he has. He’s an intelligent player. If he’s fit he definitely can help every team.
“This is why I must say I am happy he is now at a level where hopefully he stays fit.”
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