Martin: Downes is a brilliant addition
Russell Martin believes Flynn Downes will be a big addition to his Southampton squad after reuniting with the midfielder.
The Saints boss managed Downes during the 2021/22 season while they were both at Swansea and he has now linked up with him again, with the 24-year-old signing on loan from West Ham for the remainder of the campaign.
Martin was delighted the club were able to complete the move and he is excited about the qualities Downes will add.
"He's a brilliant character, he's a winner, someone who's aggressive and a brilliant athlete too,” he said.
“We've got a great relationship, myself, Gilly, him and the rest of the staff, so he knows what he's coming into and that will speed him up, because he knows the work and he's done it before.
Flynn Downes poses with the Southampton home shirt at Staplewood Campus
“He's a real winner, a brilliant teammate and someone who's got a lot of quality on the ball, which is obviously why West Ham took him to the Premier League and I think he feels really hungry to get playing football again because he hasn't played as much as he would have liked in the last year.
“So he has hunger, he has character, he has a lot of talent and he has a lot of physicality as well.
“He was a massive favourite with the players, the staff and the fans at Swansea and I'm sure he'll be the same here.”
