As Saints prepare a revamp of their squad this summer, it is likely that many of the fringe players who have come through the ranks will go, Bristol City are after one of them.

Bristol City are after Saints wide man/left back Sam McQueen according to the latest reports, at 23 the left sided player needs first team football and it now seems unlikely that he will achieve that with any regularity with Saints.

McQueen came to the fore a couple of years ago, after a less than average loan spell at Southend in the second half of the 2015/16 season where playing as a winger he started only 4 games with another 14 from the bench, it looked like he would leave St Mary's in August of that year.

However injuries to both Ryan Bertrand and Matt Targett left Saints short of cover and he was converted to a full back, a position that he seemed to suit more than being a wide attacking player.

Than meant he played a fair few games for Saints in 2016/17 although his starting games came mainly in the cup, the following year he again proved an able deputy, but this season chances have been few and far between, in the League he started only one game that being at Manchester United at the end of December and he only played another 16 minutes of Premier League football after, Mark Hughes bringing him on for a late cameo in the last two games of the season.

So it looks now that with Matt Targett due to return from Fulham with experience under his belt that Sam McQueen will be moving on.

In his two years as a first team player he started only 6 Premier League games plus another 14 as sub, indeed across three cup competitions he made more starts in that time meaning that his profile is perhaps a little higher than his League appearances suggest, he didn't let Saints down when he played, but he couldn't force his way into genuinely challenging for a first team spot either.

At 23 he needs to move on and perhaps build a reputation in a lower division and see if he can work back up to the Premier League, Saints also need to clear the decks for the likes of Josh Sims to come through.

Photo: Action Images

arthurfane added 10:35 - May 21 I like McQueen and think he's a very good Left Back option. With Bertie most probably moving on, do people think Targett will make the step up? For me, he's done an adequate but not hugely impressive job when called upon for Saints. I do think he's done a great job for Fulham on loan, and feel he could step into the first choice LB role next season. Would love to keep McQueen here for cover, but appreciate he's at the age where he'll be needing first team football so perhaps this is the right time to move on. Jake Vokins looks like he has a bit future - back up LB for him next season or too early?

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davenbennett added 11:49 - May 21 Targett has one fatal flaw - no pace. I have watched a few of his games with Fulham on TV. It is evident he cannot beat a man on the outside. He maybe could be a conventional full back, but not a wing back. McQueen at least can beat a man, but maybe just below Premier league quality. I think he would be a great reserve, but is he willing to settle for that?
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underweststand added 12:28 - May 21 I'm sure this storyline will be re-written for half-a-dozen U23 's in the coming season Good player at youth level, came throught he Academy that he joined aged 8 or 9 ..did well at U18 and moved up to the U23 's at an early age ..BUT when it comes to the crunch..is he really good enough to play against top international players in the Prem. Sadly the answer is most likely NO ! If he stays would he get much game time against a player like Bertrand ..(who may not move anyway). Jake Vokins is a fine young player but at 18 he's still got a way to go..but didn't we say that about Bale and Shaw.? Who knows? At his age it's best for Sam to get regular game time in a lower league club where he can become a "star player ". Harry Reed and Matt Targett were stand-out players when on loan (as was Sam Gallagher . when not injured). The same response I give every year...the difference between the Championship and the Prem. is much greater than the three teams who are eventually promoted. Mc Q ..and a few othes ...may have fine careers at a lower level..but just to be sure , I hope we have a good % sell-on clause ...just in case .

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PatfromPoole added 13:28 - May 21 I think we should be looking at loaning him out rather than a sale. We don't need the cash from a sale, and I think he could still turn out to be a really good player for us.
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IWOZTHERE added 15:15 - May 21 Shame, cos I think he's much better than Matt Targett (unless MT has really improved at Fulham.) Unless Bert is intent on going and we've a good replacement on the radar, I'd keep him.
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dirk_doone added 15:16 - May 21 Sam McQueen is a very good young footballer. Hopefully, we can keep him.
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SanMarco added 15:55 - May 21 Depends whether he wants to be first reserve at left-back. He is decent player but not, in my view, good enough as first choice - so please Saints learn from mistakes over the Yoshi-Stephens fiasco. If Bertrand goes we need a good replacement. 'Making do' nearly got us relegated - by all means sell those that want to go but REPLACE them with good quality.
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ChristchurchSaint added 17:01 - May 21 If we are going to continue with 3 CBs, then we need wingbacks. McQueen is better than Targett (assuming Targett comes back- he did say he was keen to stay at Fulham.) as a wingback. May all depend on a) whether Bertrand leaves, and b) whether there is anybody coming through from the U23s.
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SaintBrock added 17:42 - May 21 McQueen should move on for his own good. He will only ever be a fringe player here and is not the shoe-in for Betrand should he leave. He is let's face it a tad pedestrian in his whole approach to football. Not sure he is fast enough to be a wing back or solid enough as defender.
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SaintBrock added 17:44 - May 21 I wonder what we'll say if Fulham win on Saturday and come in with a firm offer for Targett? £10m should do it for Gao.
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