Belgium international defender, Jelle Van Damme, was a big signing in two senses – he cost £2.5m and stood 6ft 4ins. He was not the tallest arrival at St Mary’s in the summer of 2005 – Peter Crouch is 6’7” – but there can be no disputing that he was the costliest mistake. Even if allowance is made for the turnover of managers as the side struggled in vain to avoid relegation, Jelle’s appearance record – never starting more than two Premier League games in succession – was, to put it mildly, disappointing.

He was packed off to Germany, come the summer, on loan. Southampton then recouped a little of their outlay when Anderlecht paid €500,000 to take him home to Belgium. He had an eventful four seasons with them, during which he won League and Cup medals; married Elke Clijsters, sister of tennis champion Kim; and was accused by an opponent, African-American Oguchi Onyewu, of racial abuse. The matter threatened to go to court, until it was settled, with an apology, in 2011, just after Jelle had returned to Belgium – this time to Standard Liège – from an ill-starred stint in the Premier League.

Southampton had reportedly received a further £300,000 when Wolverhampton brought Jelle back to England in 2010. His League record for Wolves of four starts and two sub appearances was identical to that for the Saints. After a season playing in California he returned to he eventually returned to his home-town club. Whatever might explain the considerable under-achievement in England of a 30-cap Belgian, especially at a time when Belgian players have been blossoming in the Premiership, the sad fact is that Jelle has made his mark in another way – when fans gather in the pubs or on the forums to compile a list of players who flattered most to deceive at Southampton, it is a fair bet that his name is never far from the top.