Flynn Downes has grown into his role in the Southampton midfield and is fast becoming a key player in Russell Martin's team and with West Ham faltering, their fans have been bemoaning letting him go to St Mary's on loan.

There had been some talk amongst Saints supporters that we might see Flynn Downes recalled back from his loan spell at St Mary's by West Ham United in January, however it appears that will not be the case.

westhamfans.org have confirmed that there is no recall clause in place between the two clubs, whilst also bemoaning the fact that they let Downes leave in the first place.

After a good start in the Premier League where they won 3 and drew 1 of their opening 4 games, the Hammers have gone a little off track of late, of the 7 games played since that opening spell they have won just once, that being against bottom of the table Sheffield United and taken just one more point, that being against Newcastle.

This has seen them slump down the table and they are now 12th.

The West Ham supporters seem to be laying the blame firmly in the centre of the midfield, westhamfans.org claim that the issue is that they have no one there who can 'put it about' due to the likes of Lucas Paqueta & Edson Alvarez being missing.

They go on further to suggest that the man who would be the ideal replacement for those missing is on loan at Southampton and that there is no recall clause in place for January.

They say that this is because Saints insisted on a full season with no recall loan arrangement as part of the deal that took James Ward Prowse in the other direction.

"Normally loaning clubs have the option of a recall 'ring fenced', alas it was not the case with Downes probably because his old manager at Swansea Russell Martin now manages the Saints and is a keen admirer of the combative midfielder, a player David Moyes just didn't 'fancy' given the measly amount of Premier League playing time he gave him."

However they don't seem to pin the blame on our former Captain, he initially flourished at the London Stadium, but since then the player who famously played every minute of every game when available, has found it not so easy as the Hammers failed to hit the nail on the head, with West Ham chasing the game in a 1-0 defeat to Everton , JWP made way in the 71st minute, the second time he had been taken off in a Premier League game, something he was not used to in recent years at St Mary's.

But none of that concerns us now, what is of interest though is the fact that West Ham won't be able to recall Flynn Downes so hopefully our momentum won't be disrupted in January and the midfielder will celebrate his 25th birthday on the 20th of that month still a vital part of Southampton's promotion push.

Photo: Action Images

Bowlercow added 14:01 - Nov 7 Harwood Bellis has said that he wants to remain at Saints IF we get back to the promised land I would imagine that Flynn would be of a similar frame of mind RM knew him in a previous club and will probably know what the player sees as his future
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SanMarco added 12:16 - Nov 8 I don't give a flying feck what Wet Spam supporters (or any other club's for that matter) think (any more than they would care what we think). Downes is settling in well - as is Harwood-Bellis. Things are looking reasonably good for us at the moment and that is all any of us need care about!!!
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