Jose Fonte is hoping to gain his first cap for Portugal tonight as they play Argentina at Old Trafford and he is one Saints player who deserves it.
Such is the change at St Mary's not just over the last six months but over the period since Markus Liebherr bought the club that only Morgan Schneiderlin as a genuine first team player has served longer than Jose Fonte, of course Kelvin Davis has been there longer than both of them but in the past couple of season's his role at the club has changed and he is no longer considered a first team regular...
In January Fonte will celebrate five years at the club and in that time he has played 177(3) League games scoring 13 goals plus 16 appearances in other competitions, meaning that if all goes well the visit of Manchester United will be his 200th appearance in a Saints shirt.
In many ways Fonte reminds me of Claus Lundekvam, not only in physique and style of play, but in his ability to keep confounding his critics and just when you think he might need replacing to come back stronger.
This is not meant as a criticism of Jose, although I have to admit I have been one who at times thought he might need replacing, but an accolade to him, like Lundekvam he just seems to have that ability to raise his game again just when you think its time for a change in his position.
Sadly I don't think he will have time in his career to equal Claus's 400 plus games for Saints, but Jose has surprised me so far so I wouldn't bet on it just yet.
My criticism's of him have always been about how he seems to just lack that final bit of concentration sometimes and i think they have been justified in the past, although I think that some of these problems have stemmed from never having a truly quality central defender alongside him.
Last season his partnership with Dejan Lovren especially in the first half of the season when Lovren looked immense brought out the best in Jose and the sloppy lapses of concentration seemed to go out of his game in the main.
This continued this term, and giving him the Captaincy also seems to have instilled in him a confidence and a desire that wasn't quite there in previous seasons, I wouldnt say that it is just the presence of Toby Alderweireld that has been the difference, Jose has been quality when Gardos or Yoshida have been in the team, the extra responsibilty has done him good.
Now that has been rewarded by a call up to the Portugal squad, last time he didn't get a cap, but perhaps tonight he will get one and that would be a fitting tribute to a player who like former team mate Rickie Lambert only experienced top flight football in England in the latter part of his career.
Turning 31 in January I don't think the Portugese will see him as a long term answer in their team, but hopefully they will reward him for a distinguished career.
Saints fans have a few good memories of Fonte, not least his ability to sneak the odd last minute goal or two, back in 2012/13 he earned us a draw at home to Fulham at a time when we badly needed a point or two, last season he headed a last minute equaliser against Sunderland, but perhaps his greatest moment in a Saints shirt (or rather without) came when he headed the last minute winner at Brighton in April 2011, I would say that this could be described as perhaps the most vital goal of the Liebherr era, without this we would have dropped a vital two points and it could have given the impetus back to Huddersfield but this goal suddenly changed the way the pendulum was swinging and gave us the momentum to go on and finish the job.
For those on the temporary structure behind the goal that day it was one of those moments where unadulterated joy takes over and the sight of Jose shirt off running across the running track into the arms of a few dozen Saints supporters who spilled over the bariers to greet him was amazing, you knew at that moment that perhaps history had changed, without that goal it could have been far different since then.
So hopefully Jose will get his cap and hopefully he will continue the form shown this season, if he does then it could be a great season for both Jose Fonte and Southampton Football Club .