Cacares a risk Southampton have to take

Caceres at Juve – ninetyminutesonline.com

When a club is set to sign a player that has not played football in 12 months and has significant injury problems, there are normally concerns. Southampton new boy Martin Caceres has not played in more than 18 league games since 2010-11 and the risk is that his career is on a downward trajectory.

That trajectory however, is partly a by-product of the level of clubs he has previously played at: Barcelona, Juventus and to a lesser extent Sevilla. He has contributed, in however modest circumstances, to 17 trophy wins and been part of respectable Uruguay sides at two World Cups.

So: is he a defender that has stayed in good squads because elite coaches recognize the qualities he brings? Or one who has not been truly stretched, whose reputation relies on the success of more prominently featuring teammates?

The former would seem a fairer depiction but his unemployment length of seven months offers weight to the alternative theory. Either way, with the transfer window now gone, Southampton are not in a position to be overly picky.

Last month saw Jose Fonte move to West Ham, who then exposed the flaws in Southampton’s defence without the centre-back facing them, and his former partner. Virgil Van Dijk is now out injured for effectively the rest of the season, meaning a quality partner for Maya Yoshida is required.

Jack Stephens excelled in the clean sheet at Liverpool in the League Cup semi-final second leg. However, he has since been part of a defence that has conceded 10 goals in three games and much of the 23-year-old’s experience has come below Championship level. To rely on him as a first choice centre-back would be a risk that Claude Puel, under pressure from some quarters, cannot take.

Caceres’ lack of game time means he might not be the ideal option for the Saints, but his experience dictates that he is the best one in their current circumstances.