Redmond rediscovers his zest at last to help guide Southampton to safety

FOR Nathan Redmond, it has been a long time coming. Over the past two years at Southampton, it appeared the penny might never drop for one of the most gifted English players in his age group. Redmond, we should remember, is only 24. He had been sent to train with the Under 23 team, and last season he was booed by his club’s own supporters and Pep Guardiola made his own intervention on the field when he urged Redmond to rediscover his zest. What a contrast, then, on Saturday as he scored twice to all but secure Southampton’s safety. Redmond, along with Josh Sims and Danny Ings, was outstanding as part of a three-man attacking unit who clinically converted their chances. Redmond opened the scoring from a Sims cross inside two minutes and then restored Southampton’s lead after Willy Boly had equalised. Shane Long came off the bench to secure a deserved victory. When manager Ralph Hasenhuttl arrived in December, he bluntly told Redmond he was still to produce a goal or assist for his club three

months into the season. Now in April, the forward has scored eight under his new manager and it is little wonder that Mick McCarthy is making overtures to persuade the player, who has an Irish mother, to represent the Republic of Ireland. Hasenhuttl said: ‘It is Reddy’s decision who he feels he has to play for. He is having a fantastic development. He can make the difference. It is unbelievable that he was very much criticised last season in this stadium.’ As for Wolves, it was a timid response to the heartbreak of FA Cup defeat against Watford at Wembley. Captain Conor Coady said: ‘We knew we had a job to do today and we’ve not done it. It’s as simple as that.’