With the Championship regular season due to end on Saturday 3rd May, one question being asked is whether Saints players out on loan, could return and play in the final matches of the Premier League season.

When the regular Championship season ends on 3rd May, Southampton will still have 3 Premier League matches left to play and to be blunt they could do with the likes of Adam Armstrong, Shea Charles & Ronnie Edwards all out on loan to Championship clubs who will not be involved in the play offs, they will be effectively leaving their respective clubs after their final game on 3rd May.

Given our lack of firepower up front, getting Adam Armstrong back would perhaps be the priority, although it would good to give a run out to the other two.

Saints do have form in this, looking back to 2004/05 season, there are many parallels to be drawn, firstly we had 3 managers, Paul Sturrock was sacked barely into the season to be replaced by Steve Wigley who himself was sacked in December with Harry Redknapp being the 3rd incumbent, secondly we ended up getting relegated and thirdly Redknapp loaned out one of our strikers in the January of the season who we could have done with as we sank to relegation.

That man was Brett Ormerod, he like Adam Armstrong this season was seen as a good workmanlike striker, who was perhaps too good for the Championship, but not quite good enough for the Premier League, although he had played a big part in our 2022/23 season both in getting us to 8th place and also the FA Cup final.

But he was surplus to requirements in this season, firstly he was loaned to Leeds United in the September of 2023 in the pre transfer window days for a couple of months and then when he returned he was soon surplus to Redknapp who loaned him to Wigan Athletic in January..

When the Championship season ended Ormerod returned to the club just in time for the final do or die match against Manchester United at St Mary's, by now Redknapp was desperate, he dithered about his starting line up and could not decide on who would play up front, he considered Marion Pahars who had been out injured all season but was just about fit, but he decided against that, in the end he left Kevin Phillips on the bench and went for Henri Camara and Brett Ormerod who had not played for the club since January and who hadn't exactly set the World alight at Wigan.

It did not end well as we all know.

So the big question is whether the trio of Armstrong, Charles & Edwards can play in the 3 remaining matches after their season and therefore their loan effectively ends or whether they will have to sit and watch from the stands.

To be honest I don't know the answer, googling it doesn't come up with much except that the loan would be to "the end of the season" but is that the regular season or including the play offs ?

Personally I hope that we are able to play the trio, Adam Armstrong may not be a top notch Premier League striker, but he is better than anyone else we have up front in his overall play, we could use him for the last few games.

We don't need Shea Charles or Ronnie Edwards so much, but it would be good to re integrate them in the squad and show they are wanted for next season, perhaps even give them some minutes in the Premier League.

All three could play a big part in our promotion push for next season, we need to start the rebuild of the squad now, we need to make sure that those who will be staying know they are wanted.

All Photos Via Reuters

davenbennett added 11:34 - Apr 23 Looked up rules. Loans end last day regular season. So if got into play offs, unless not got specific clause, or agree extension, loanee couldn't play. So, as don't apply , registration comes back to Saints. However, don't know if not being registered at end of last window means not able to play in PL. So still not sure.
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Bowlercow added 11:59 - Apr 23 Would love to see Edwards and THB together If we could then get an experienced CB to play in between or alongside one of them Happy days Likewise a partnership between AA and Stewart the 25/26 could look a lot happier
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underweststand added 12:48 - Apr 23 a lot of conjecture about " early returns " here (Nick). Assuming they had a recall clause ?, then they could be brought back. Armstrong seemed to enjoy working with Tony Mowbray (again) but as HE has now been sacked that situation is no longer a viable alternative. The real question is...are we happy to see Adam continue, or let him move elsewhere? Bearing in mind neat season, there is no mention of our other on loan-ers, BBD (who may move to Sheff Utd), the promising O'Brien-Whitmarsh, and Dom Ballard whose goal tally in the U18's left Tyler Dibling in the dust whilst they played alongside each other. Shea Charles has had a v.g. season with Sheff. Wednesday, so he should walk into our new line-up without too much discussion, (and maybe bring his brother Pierce with him which might help solve our goalkeeping dilemma next season). If THB leaves (likely) Edwards should be good enough to DAJFU in the backline along with Wood-Gordon, which leaves Capt. Jack and /or JB ..depending on their futures. NO, it was an interesting discussion point, (Nick) but I don't see it happening as we have nothing else to play for - apart from that one elusive point to help us avoid disgrace.

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Farlow added 13:02 - Apr 23 The priority must be a top class striker that weve not had for a few years now.I think the returning loanees will certainly strengthen the squad and compensate someway towards the imminent depatures.
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PezzaSaint added 08:36 - Apr 24 AA isn’t getting in WBA’s starting line up right now so I don’t think we should look to bring him back. If he did come back and was successful in the Championship for us next season and we get promoted then we have the same problem that we had at the start of this season. He’s not good enough for the Prem and we’ll end up paying an extortionate amount for another striker if we could even get one and SR are prepared to pay the money? Big IFS Personally I would like to see us try and find a new striker for next season and hope if promoted they make it in the Premier League. A lot more big IFS!!!

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PezzaSaint added 08:37 - Apr 24 Shouldn’t!
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