Fraser "even more motivated" for Saints challenge
Ryan Fraser is excited to prove himself all over again, after signing a season-long loan deal with Southampton.
The 29-year-old winger has racked up 173 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth, where he spent more than seven years, and Newcastle combined, but the last of those came in October last year.
Since then it’s been a frustrating period for the Scotland international, but he’s determined to remind observers what he’s capable of on his return to the south coast.
“It’s made me even more motivated, if that’s even possible,” Fraser said. “I love football, I love playing football, obviously things have happened up there that no one knows about, so everyone can jump to conclusions and have their own thoughts on what’s happened.
“I’m just delighted to come and play football again, put the past behind me, the club and the manager, and start again – make me want to win games again, play games, enjoy it, and that’s what I’m most looking forward to.
“I think everyone’s got something to prove, it doesn’t matter where you are in your career. Whether you’re younger, older, everyone’s going to question you – you sometimes question yourself, but I believe in myself, I believe in this group and I wouldn’t have come here if not.
“I’m just going to try and show everyone on the pitch I’m going to give one hundred and ten per cent, and try to win people over that might have their doubts. I think if you ask fanbases, I do give my all, and that’s what I’ll be doing here.”
Fraser was a promotion winner with Bournemouth, where he won the Sky Bet Championship title in 2014/15, which is driving him to relive the same glory in a Saints shirt.
“It’s the best feeling,” he added. “I personally thought it was a better feeling than staying in the league.
“Winning week in, week out, getting that winning feeling, it gives a positive sense around the club, being able to lift the trophy at the end and getting a winner’s medal to get back up there, it is a great feeling.
“It gives the fans something to shout about as well. It’s easy to say the club deserves to be there – we need to put it into the games and make sure that we do go there and give the fans something to shout about.”
