CUCO Martina could become the first casualty of Claude Puel’s reign at Saints, with the new manager looking to bring in a new right-back to compete with Cedric Soares.

The Curacao international was brought in for £1m from Dutch side FC Twente last summer to bolster Saints’ defensive options after Ryan Bertrand was ruled out with injury.

Despite his status as a squad player, Martina was used far more than originally expected, often preferred to Cedric by Ronald Koeman on the right side of defence, with the Portuguese international struggling to adapt to the Premier League in his debut season.

The 26-year-old, who made 18 appearances last term, even netted the club’s goal of the season with that swerving beauty of a strike in the 4-0 Boxing Day win over Arsenal.

But he might now find himself surplus to requirements at St Mary’s with Puel said to be looking to bring in an attacking right-back.

Martina, who signed a two-year contract last July, has always known that his Premier League dream was like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and wanted to make the most of any playing chances.

Yet, at the same time, it could be said that he has for all intents and purposes served his purpose as a solid albeit unspectacular – minus that stunning strike against the Gunners – back up, and that £5m man Cedric would ultimately be first choice next term.

That makes Martina prime candidate to become the first player of Puel’s tenure to leave St Mary’s, even though Puel is yet to see Cedric in action first-hand, with the former Sporting Lisbon man and Jose Fonte given an extended period of leave following their Euro 2016 triumph with Portugal.

Puel is expected to ramp up his transfer market activity this week after returning to the south coast from a week-long training camp in Baltimore with a 24-man Saints squad.

A right-back and deep lying attacking threat are understood to be high on the shopping list, which could well pave the way for Martina’s exit.

Unfortunately for the Curacaoan, Cedric is certainly a player Puel will look to keep after the attacking full-back impressed for Portugal at the Euros, with the hope he acclimatises better to the Premier League in his second season in England. He could, as has been reported elsewhere, even be rewarded with a fresh contract.

With Saints heading off to Holland on Friday for their second pre-season trip abroad, the Frenchman’s third week in charge represents a key time in the complexion of his team for next season.

Puel and his backroom staff spent much of the United States trip putting the team through double daily sessions in sweltering temperatures of around 30c, which were designed with mostly fitness in mind, rather than tactical approach.

But over the coming days at Staplewood, Puel will be moulding Saints with his philosophy and style of play as well as adding to the areas that he feels are in need of strengthening.

This window of opportunity counts for a lot, with the chance to meet key men Shane Long, Steven Davis, Fraser Forster and Ryan Bertrand who all return for pre-season after representing their countries at Euro 2016.

Central defenders Florin Gardos and Maya Yoshida, neither of whom travelled to the States, also have a first real chance to impress the new manager.

The trip to Holland sees Saints take on PEC Zwolle this Saturday before a friendly with Dusan Tadic’s former team FC Twente a week tomorrow. Puel’s side finish the tour against FC Groningen on Saturday, 30 July.

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