Rarely can a young new signing have fitted so seamlessly into a Premier League team, but right from the moment of his debut against Everton, aged just 17 and a half, Tino Livramento looked as if he had been playing as a right-wing back in Saints defence for years. It was astonishing to see some one so assured and mature whose only previous experience of elite English football was sitting on the bench for a couple of Premier League fixtures for Chelsea. When new contract talks between him and Chelsea stalled during 2021 Saints took advantage of the fact there was a clearer pathway to first-team football at St Mary’s.

Not only was he a more than competent defender but his surging runs into the opponents halves became a significant weapon to complement Southampton’s attacking options. Everything in the garden appeared rosey but at a game at the Amex in April 2022 he suffered an ACL injury that along with a torn hamstring sustained as he started his rehab, kept him out for the game for 13 months. He eventually returned to feature in Saints last two games before relegation to the Championship. It was hoped that being out of action for so long would put off any transfer activity for at least another season but Newcastle had kept Tino on their radar and, although a tidy profit was made when he joined them, his departure was much lamented.