BOSS Nathan Jones believes Saints have to “build” Kyle Walker-Peters’s return, as the full-back continues to gain his match sharpness.

The England international played a key role for Saints at right-back this season, before sustaining a hamstring injury in October’s 1-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth.

Walker-Peters returned to competitive football with a 63-minute display in Tuesday’s 2-1 Carabao Cup fourth round win over Lincoln.

Jones insisted around an hour of action was always the plan for the former Tottenham man, as he continues to get back into match action.

"We have to build him in. We can't push them, so 60 minutes was always the plan," the Saints boss said about Walker-Peters.  

"That's the thing, we don't just have to win football matches, we have to implement things and this was effectively our final pre-season game, which you have to take into consideration as well.

“There are a lot of people coming back from certain things and building up, and that probably showed."

Asked about Walker-Peters’s performance against the Imps, Jones said: “I thought he did okay.

"I thought he was lively, he was bright. Defensively there were no problems, going forward we want a bit more from him as he gets rhythm."

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook