This scapegoated Southampton star must now prove himself after transfer rejection
Southampton will need to put in a much-improved performance on Saturday against Stoke City to get up and running in the Championship this season.
The Saints just weren't at the races whatsoever against Watford, particularly in the first half, as Alessio Dionisi's sprightly hosts caught Tonda Eckert's men cold by winning 2-1.
There's no need to go overboard from a Southampton perspective, though, as they struggled towards the start of the 2025/26 season in the second tier, when the unpopular Will Still was at the helm, and still managed to sneak into the playoff picture under the transformative reign of Eckert.
Regardless, the minus four point deduction next to their name will raise the anxiety levels, and they have been dealt a cruel blow in the transfer department to pile up their early season misery even more, as one of their defensive targets now looks set to join a different Championship outfit.
Southampton's transfer rejection
Indeed, it was reported on late on Wednesday night that Anel Ahmedhodzic, who has been on the Saints' radar as of late, is set to join Nicky Hayen's Burnley, over relocating to the South Coast.
As per Feyenoord Transfermarkt, it is alleged that the Bosnian brute will be leaving Rotterdam, after only one year at De Kuip, to return to the Championship with the Clarets, with Ahmedhodzic previously a firm fan favourite at Sheffield United in the gruelling second tier.
The report goes further to state that Ahmedhodzic is due to undergo a medical at Turf Moor, killing Southampton's dreams of winning the powerful centre-back in the process.
The worry on Eckert and Co's end will be that Taylor Harwood-Bellis could still depart this summer, and with no Ahmedhodzic arriving, they could be left with a bare bones look at the back.
The 27-year-old's last-minute transfer rejection might end up reinvigorating this all too often scapegoated defender, though, as he was blasted post-match after the sobering Hornets defeat.
This scapegoated star will now have to prove himself
Everywhere you looked on social media after the loss at Vicarage Road, Jack Stephens' performance was being insulted.
Indeed, EFL pundit Tom Garratt would not mince his words at the full-time whistle, as he stated that "if you're Southampton you must be pulling their hair out" regarding the 32-year-old's horror show display, as his awkwardly hit clearance allowed Iker Bravo to opening the scoring for the fortunate hosts, before the veteran defender just watched on as the lightning-quick Amin Nabizada made it 2-0.
Stephens, himself, will know that his ropey display was below-par, and he will be hungry to prove his doubters wrong against Stoke, if he's picked, as Ahmedhodzic won't be taking his spot off him.
While it's clear that the ageing defender isn't a spring chicken anymore, he should have enough - over a full season - to still be largely dependable, away from his error-strewn Watford outing.
Last campaign, from 32 league appearances, Stephens looked largely assured on the ball, with a 91% pass accuracy average registered. The aforementioned Harwood-Bellis, who is always spoken about so glowingly in contrast, came in with a lesser 86% pass average, in contrast.
With nine clean sheets collected as well in league action last campaign, the veteran defender will be desperate to walk out onto the pitch against the Potters and put in a much more polished performance, to brush his costly Hornets errors under the carpet.
He has won promotion before being a key part of the Saints backline, and when Eckert's men were picking up wins for fun last campaign, he was a regular starter.
As Saints writer Alex Comber has stated, the rhetoric surrounding the 32-year-old has been "unfair."
Unfortunately, all of these positive numbers in Stephens' favour have been pushed to one side now, as frustrations have come to the surface over Southampton's inability to clinch a deal for Ahmedhodzic, which has then coincided with his shoddy afternoon at Vicarage Road.
Eckert could send out a telling message on Saturday if he sticks by Stephens, as the German has hailed the captain in the past for being a leader.
Now is the time for the old-hand centre-back to silence his critics, with a clean sheet against the Potters - who might have George Hirst available in attack - likely doing the job.
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