This is Southampton’s dream January defence including this key target

LB – Ryan Bertrand

Ryan Bertrand had to leave Chelsea in 2015, as his first team opportunities became scarce and his immediate future looked bleak, and it’s Southampton who have seriously benefitted from his decision to leave Stamford Bridge.

The England international spent the first half of the 2014/15 season on loan at St Mary’s, and excellent displays at full-back in a brilliant Saints defence saw him make the move permanent in February 2015.

Bertrand is arguably Danny Rose’s nearest challenger to the number one left-back spot in the England team and, if he continues to perform at a high level for Southampton, then he’ll give interim boss Gareth Southgate plenty to think about going forward.