Will Still must unleash £15k-a-week Southampton FC star - He's a creative force | OneFootball

Ryan Manning has started just two of Southampton's opening five Championship games.

Will Still's start to life at Southampton has begun slowly, to say the least.

The Saints have won just one of their opening five Championship matches this season, drawing the other three and being defeated in one.

Stoke City are the only side to have beaten the south coast outfit so far this season, despite the Potters being reduced to 10 men for much of the second half, whilst draws away to Ipswich Town, away to Watford and at home to Portsmouth confirm the Saints getting out of the blocks steadily.

Their only win in the league came on the opening day, a 2-1 victory at home to newly-promoted Wrexham, where they fell behind and were rescued by two late goals from Manning and captain Jack Stephens.

Manning was introduced as a 72nd-minute substitute in the fixture and scored a sublime free-kick to level the scores in stoppage time, before his deflected cross reached Stephens at the back post, who prodded home in the 96th minute.

Despite this, Brazilian wing-back Welington had been preferred on the left flank. However, an injury against Stoke has ruled the 24-year-old out for at least a few months, leaving Manning free to swoop in and make the position his own.

Will Still must utilise Ryan Manning's creative ability to turn results around at Southampton

Southampton will claim to have been slightly unlucky in the early stages of this season to have picked up as few points as they have.

Despite scoring just six goals in the league so far, Southampton have the second-best expected goals (xG) in the Championship, according to FotMob, with only Coventry City (11.4) bettering the Saints (10.5) in this metric.

Still, who at 32 years old has managed both Reims and Lens in the French top flight, will therefore have little cause for concern when looking at the data, even if he is disappointed with their points tally after five games.

Manning, despite starting just two of Southampton's league matches this season, has created the most chances in the Championship, according to FotMob, with 13, one more than Sheffield Wednesday's Barry Bannan and Stoke's Sorba Thomas.

The Republic of Ireland international is yet to pick up an assist for his efforts, but does have two goals to his name - both of which have come from free-kicks.

It's no real secret that Manning has a wand of a left foot, having showed it for the Saints and QPR over the years, and given the fact he played 24 times for Southampton in the Premier League last season, you'd have thought Manning would've been first-choice anyway for Still.

Alas, he has not been, but Welington's unfortunate injury now gives the 29-year-old a fresh chance, and given the nature of his attacking quality, Still must recognise the weapon he has at his disposal and unleash Manning.

Welington's injury leaves an open vacancy for Manning on Southampton's left flank

With Wellington ruled out for up to a few months, Manning is the only other recognised left-back/left wing-back in the Saints squad, likely making this position his own.

Still recently switched from his favoured 3-4-3 formation, which he opened the season with, to a 4-2-3-1 shape against rivals Portsmouth, potentially indicating a change in style.

Southampton recruited the likes of Leo Scienza and Tom Fellows just shy of the transfer deadline, and with Ryan Fraser, Jay Robinson and Adam Armstrong all in the side who can operate on the flanks, this allows Still to be flexible with what shape he decides to deploy.

Manning started as the left-back against Portsmouth in a back four, but started the game before that as a wing-back in 3-4-3, where he scored, proving he is effective in both roles depending on which Still favours.