Exclusive: Southampton FC urged to avoid "stupid" Ross Stewart transfer decision | OneFootball

Speaking exclusively to FLW, Lee Hendrie has given his verdict on Ross Stewart's Southampton future

Lee Hendrie believes Southampton must keep hold of Ross Stewart for next season despite his numerous injury issues.

The forward has made just six appearances in the Premier League so far this season, with further fitness issues preventing him from featuring more regularly.

The Scot has struggled for game time ever since he made the switch from Sunderland late in the 2023 summer transfer window.

Stewart is coming into the final 12 months of his contract with the Saints, leading to uncertainty over his future at the club.

Southampton urged to keep Ross Stewart

Hendrie believes that it would be a bad decision from Southampton to get rid of Stewart going into next season given his impressive goal record.

He is hopeful the player can establish a strong fitness base during pre-season, which will allow him to finally show what he can do for the club.

“Yes I would, for sure,” Hendrie exclusively told Football League World.

“I just think he’s been hampered with injuries.

“I think he proved what he was capable of doing when he was at Sunderland, goal-scorer, very good player.

“I always felt he could make the step up to the Premier League, because he had that little bit more quality than you would certainly see in the Championship, and step up.

“I always felt he was capable of doing that.

“He produced big moments at Sunderland, but obviously he’s injured.

“Going back into the Championship, I think it’s a fresh start for him.

“Hopefully he comes back after pre-season with a strong fitness base and he’ll always score goals, so I think they’d be stupid to get rid of him.”

Stewart played just three times in the Championship for Southampton last season as Russell Martin’s side gained promotion through the play-offs after coming fourth in the table.

Difficult to imagine a strong market for Stewart this summer

Stewart has played well in the Championship when he’s actually managed to stay fit, so there’s definitely an argument for keeping him at the club.

But it’s also hard to imagine there being a strong market for him in the summer due to the extent of his fitness issues.

He simply hasn’t played enough to convince other clubs he’d be worth paying considerable money for, so any sale would surely come at a cut rate price.

And at that stage, Southampton might be better off taking the risk that he comes good and can help power them back to the Premier League next season.