I learnt a lot from former Southampton coach Russell Martin – Kamaldeen Sulemana

Southampton winger Kamaldeen Sulemana has thrown his support behind ex-manager Russell Martin, predicting a swift return to the dugout for the sacked boss.

Martin lost his job earlier this season at St Mary’s, with Ivan Juric stepping in to take the reins.

“I respect Russell so much, I learnt a lot from him and I think he’s going to do great in his career in the way he’s playing,” the Ghanaian winger told the Daily Echo.

“Maybe I’m not his ultimate style of playing that he wants to play, and that’s fair – and you could tell that’s why I wasn’t playing, I think.

“I don’t think it was anything to do with attitude-wise, it was nothing to do with training-wise, it was nothing to do with anything character-wise.

“I think it was more his tactics, it was more who he felt was going to help him. Whether he believed in me or not, that’s for him to come out and say.

“We have respect for each other, we had very good conversations when I wasn’t playing and when I played, we have a big respect for each other.

“When we speak, I feel like he tells me what he has on his mind and I tell him what I have on my mind. We haven’t always agreed on the same point.”

Despite his limited playing time under Martin, Sulemana is optimistic that the manager’s tactical philosophy will shine somewhere soon.