'If it's not Chelsea' - Southampton coach provides update on nephew of ex-Super Eagles defender

Southampton manager Russell Martin has provided an update on Lesley Ugochukwu, nephew of former Super Eagles defender Onyekachi Apam.

Martin left the talented midfielder out of the squad during their Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion last Saturday.

This came as a surprise as there was no prior information on him getting injured before the fixture. It was the second time that he has been left from the matchday squad since he joined the club on loan from Chelsea last summer.

Ugochukwu joined the Saints to garner more game time under his belt but his loan spell has not gone as planned. 

He has started just five games across all competitions but just two in the Premier League.

Martin has stuck with Mateus Fernandes and Flynn Downes for most of the games, thereby leading to lesser game time for the French-Nigerian midfielder.

However, he is mostly among the substitutes but his omission from the matchday squad for the game with Brighton raised some concerns regarding his status in the squad.

Speaking to reporters in his pre-match press conference  before the visit of Chelsea, Martin stated that the 20-year-old is still part of his plans despite his absence from the last game.

"Yeah, I think if it's not Chelsea, he's probably back in the squad and we are assessing the situation. But as we just disccused, he wasn't in the squad, he knows the reason why.

"Every game is different so it doesn't mean he is not going to be in the squad moving forward. We just have to assess it game to game."

Due to Premier League rules on loan players, the French youth will not be included in Southampton's squad for the fixture against Chelsea on Wednesday at St. Mary’s Stadium, as he is ineligible to play against his parent club.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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