Why moving to Blackburn Rovers on loan is the best move for Harrison Reed

Promising Southampton midfielder Harrison Reed has joined Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers on loan for the remainder of the 2018/19 campaign. (BBC)

The 23-year-old is a product of the Saints’ academy and is held in high regards within the South Coast club. Having come through the youth ranks, the Englishman was handed his first-team debut for Southampton five years ago by then manager Mauricio Pochettino, when he came on as a substitute in a League Cup game against Barnsley.

A few months later, in December 2013, Reed made his Premier League debut in a 1-1 draw against Manchester City. However, despite having broken into the senior team five years ago, the midfielder has managed to make just 30 appearances for Southampton till date, mostly from the bench. He is yet to score or assist a goal.

The 2017/18 season saw the former England U20 international move out on a loan spell with Championship outfit Norwich City. Reed finished the campaign with a goal and 4 assists in 39 matches in the English second division, despite Norwich finishing 14th.

However, despite his impressive performances, Mark Hughes signed Stuart Armstrong from Scottish champions Celtic to boost his options in the middle of the park.

The arrival of Armstrong, a two-time treble winner in Scotland with the Hoops, would have hindered Reed’s pathway to the starting line-up at St. Mary’s Stadium. Furthermore, the Saints also have Oriol Romeu and Mario Lemina in their ranks, along with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, James Ward-Prowse and captain Steven Davis.

The 23-year-old did not make a single matchday squad for the Saints, even as they struggled in their opening three games of the Premier League, gathering just one point. Since Reed is so far down in the manager’s order of preference, the chances of him getting any meaningful playing time at St.Mary’s this season would have been extremely difficult.

Based on current evidence, staying back with the Saints would have restricted him to a few appearances here and there in cup competitions, which would be far from ideal.

Regular playing time is what a player of Reed’s age needs in order to continue his progress and development and the chances of him getting that are more at Blackburn.

During his time with Norwich last season, Reed showed signs of being ready to make the step up to the first-team and holding him back would only stagnate his development. Ideally, considering the promise he has shown, he should have been handed an opportunity in Southampton’s first-team. But, with the manager not doing so, the club have taken the right step to send him out on loan.

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The temporary spell away with Tony Mowbray’s side will be another learning experience for the 23-year-old, making him well-equipped to break into the Saints’ senior team when he returns a year later.