SAINTS midfielder Will Smallbone admitted he feels his Premier League chance has been "taken away" by injury as he targets a strong 2025.

The 24 year old returned to the pitch for the first time since October as a second-half substitute in Sunday's 3-0 FA Cup third round win over Swansea City.

The clash marked his comeback from the recurrence of a hamstring injury, which initially sidelined him for two months of the season in August.

Smallbone has totalled 20 Premier League appearances but over half of those came in 2020, and he has not played more than three games in a row since.

"I worked so hard to go out on loan to come back and help the club come back up to the Premier League," Smallbone told the Daily Echo.

A hamstring injury meant Will Smallbone had not played since OctoberA hamstring injury meant Will Smallbone had not played since October (Image: Southampton FC)

"I almost feel like the chance to play in the Premier League was taken away from me personally. Obviously, things don't always work out exactly how you dream.

"It's been... I'm just trying to keep positive through the last few months. For 2025, I just want to have a positive year and help Southampton in any way I can.

"It meant the world to me to be back. It's been tough to be out for so long and to watch and feel helpless from afar to help the club in any way.

"It's been a long, tough road to get back to playing but I've been thankful for all the staff, all the players, all my family, my fiancée, everyone.

"They have all been so good with how they've been helping me get through a tough time and it's very special to come back on the pitch again."

Smallbone's last appearance was in October's disappointing 3-2 collapse to Leicester City, in which Saints blew a two-goal lead with 25 minutes left.

The Republic of Ireland ace was a second-half substitute himself and ended up playing through injury to finish the match for former boss Russell Martin.

His determination, and the manager's decision to keep him on despite struggling when he made his last two changes, has cost him three months.

"It was just a re-injury but I think I came back maybe a bit too soon and maybe that's my own eagerness to try and help the team," said Smallbone.

"Obviously, it was such a big game at the time and I just, being the person I am, wanted to come back to try and help the club in whichever way I could.

"That's obviously hindered me until now. It was a long few months but the time frame has gone exactly how it was meant to be and I am happy to be back."

New Saints boss Ivan Juric was particularly complimentary about Smallbone, who scored seven goals last season, in the build-up to the Swansea match.

Will Smallbone is also looking to add to his 11 Ireland caps in 2025Will Smallbone could also add to his 11 Ireland caps in 2025 (Image: PA)

Juric said Smallbone could be "an important player for us" and added "he understands football" as revealed the academy graduate was ready to return.

And asked why Smallbone thinks his new manager already believes that, he quipped back: "I don't know, you have to ask him!

"I think we've had two different managers this year with obviously two different styles and I think there are benefits to both styles.

"The last few weeks I have tried to train the best I can, as I would with any situation, and I have had a good conversation with the manager.

"I just want to help the team however I can and however he sees me doing that, I'll be more than happy to help us get going in a positive direction."

Smallbone returned to the pitch with a win, although the tie was well-wrapped up by the time he was introduced for Lesley Ugochukwu in the 67th minute.

Tyler Dibling had netted his second of the evening just minutes prior, while Kamaldeen Sulemana opened the scoring in the first half of the contest.

It sets up a fourth round meeting at home with Championship promotion hopefully Burnley next month and was the first Saints win since November.

Smallbone insisted: "It's very important. I think every game of football that we go into, we want to win and Sunday was no different.

"Being a cup competition, we want to go as far as possible. I think it was important that we came into this to win and get a few goals in front of our fans.

"Importantly get a clean sheet to build off of, it's a big example of an opportunity to build confidence and we have done that. It's a good day all around."