MY DANNY JOY
Hughes: Ings will shine at Saints
MARK HUGHES is backing Danny Ings to reignite his career at Southampton – but admits his signing is a gamble.
Hampshire-born Ings joined his boyhood club from Liverpool on a season-long loan in a dramatic beat-theclock deadline day move.
Saints are committed to paying £16m to make the deal permanent at the end of the season despite Ings playing just FOURTEEN Premier League games in three injury-ravaged years at Anfield.
St Mary’s boss Hughes said: “There’s risk with every player you bring to a club but he’s over the injury, that’s the important thing, and he’s been back a while.
“Obviously we are mindful of any player that’s had an injury. He’s proved his fitness, it’s not as if we have to get him rehabbed.
“He’s had the injury in his younger years. So, you always get a better response and outcome when that happens. We don’t have any worries about his injury.
“That’s the one thing that’s stymied him when he went to Liverpool, but he’s come back strong.
“He’s at a point in his career where he wants to make an impression again – he’s ready to go and there is the platform here for him to do well.
“The club wants to do well and has good players, I’m sure that’s one of the reasons why he came here when other clubs showed interest – he sees the potential.” Ings, 26, set to make his Saints debut against old club Burnley tomorrow, had just made his England debut when he was hit by the first of two serious knee injuries in 2015.
Hughes added: “It’s one step at a time for Danny.
‘‘He’s just got to get back playing every week, scoring goals and playing well. Anything that follows at international level will come as a consequence of that.
“We’re just happy that he’s here and ready to go.
“If he plays well he’ll get the rewards here and at international level.”