Jérémy Pied was linking up with manager Claude Puel for a third time when he joined Saints from French football, but just days after making his Saints debut, the full-back suffered a serious knee injury in training which required surgery. By the time he had made a full recovery – which took the best part of a season – Puel had departed and there was no new offer from the club once his initial two-year contract had run its course. In the brief glimpses the fans saw of him he looked perfectly capable but he had to go back to his native France to rekindle his career.