When Nathan Clyne arrived last summer he came with a reputation as great prospect ready to make the step up to the Premier League, but did he live up to expectations ?
When 21 year old Nathan Clyne signed from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2012 he seemed to have a lot of the attributes needed by Saints, he was young, he had plenty of experience having played 118(4) league games for the Eagles, but could he make the step up to the Premier League ?
Almost a year later the answe is an overwelming yes !
But it has been a tough baptism for the young right back, he had to adjust to the pace of the Premier League, but he met the challenge full on and although he suffered a few torrid days early on, as did all his fellow defenders in fairness, he learned from them and came back stronger.
There is no doubt that he is Premier quality and if he can continue his progress and smooth over the few faults that he has then there is no reason why he cannot only enjoy a long career at the top level but perhaps add England caps to his name.
Perhaps his greatest asset is his speed, being young and stepping up a level, he has got caught out on a few occasions when on the back foot, but in the main his speed had enabled him to rectify the situation and indeed change a defencsive situation into an attacking one, with a full season now behind him, one in which he started 34 of the 38 Premier games, scoring once in the home win against Aston Villa, he now has a little bit more experience of the type he didnt have a year ago, ie top flight.
The strange thing though is that Saints have been linked in the press with a right back, Jesus Gamez of Malaga, at a fee of reportably £5 million and at 28 years old, he wouldnt be coming as back up or as one for the future, I think most Saints supporters when looking at problem positions in the team would probably feel that in Nathan Clyne we have as good a right back as most Premier teams, why would we be looking to replace him ?
All in all though Nathan has learnt from his mistakes and come back stronger for the expreience, next season will be a big one for him, where if he continues his developement at the pace he has done, he could find himself with an England call up, he isnt quite the finished article yet, but by the end of 13/14 season he could well be.
The temptation here was to give him a 9/10, but I dont quite feel he is worth that yet, good solid displays at the back, but to get 9/10 I feel that a player needs to have done something that changes the season, so 8/10 for Nathan, I truly hope and think it might well be 9/10 this time next year.