Ryan Manning delivers defiant promotion message as Southampton aim to move on from Spygate | OneFootball

Ryan Manning has set a punchy tone for Southampton’s season, urging the squad to park last year’s Spygate fallout and chase promotion. According to Sainstmarching.com, the left-back wants the team to draw a line under the past and push on.

He stopped short of Flynn Downes’ outright prediction, but echoed the ambition, saying the mindset is to win the league despite starting on -4. He also pointed to the 21-match unbeaten run that closed last season and called for that momentum to roll into a full campaign.

Manning said the mood in Germany has been brilliant and that he is ready to go. The 30-year-old expects to remain Tonda Eckert’s first-choice left-back and wear red and white with pride.

While full-backs rarely get the spotlight, this pre-season has seen £9m signing Lewis Dobbin grab attention with three goals. Manning, though, is focused on impact at both ends as Southampton look to respond.

He delivered standout numbers last season, scoring eight and supplying six assists in 45 second-tier appearances. A notable April showing against Ipswich Town brought a goal plus six tackles and duels, underlining his balance of craft and graft.

Manning aims for another big year, drawing on previous promotion know-how from 2023/24. Saints fans know his importance, and he could even chase Danny Fox’s 11-assist benchmark from the 2012 promotion campaign.

Source: Sainstmarching.com

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