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“Charles Embraces Challenges and Growth in First Year at Southampton”
Last summer, the 20-year-old signed a four-year contract with the Saints after transferring from Manchester City, the Premier League champions.
In his debut season on the South Coast, Charles made 38 appearances in all competitions, starting 15 times in the Championship.
In an interview with Southampton’s media team, the Northern Ireland international expressed satisfaction with his first year but acknowledged areas for improvement.
“I didn’t set a specific target for the number of games,” he said. “I would have liked to start more games to build rhythm and confidence. After a few good performances, confidence builds. Overall, I’m happy with the number of games I’ve played and feel I’ve done well. In the games I started, I showed more of my ability. I believe I have much more to offer and look forward to pushing on next season.”
Charles received praise from manager Russell Martin, especially early in the season. He was named man of the match against Plymouth Argyle on his full league debut and impressed against QPR. However, with Flynn Downes joining on loan from West Ham, Charles’ playing time decreased, starting only four league games in 2024 and occasionally being left out of the squad. Martin defended these decisions.
Despite these challenges, Charles enjoyed working with the former Scotland defender. “He’s very open and good to work with, on and off the pitch,” Charles explained. “He’s honest with us, which is important. We discuss what I can improve and what I do well, and I try to implement that into my game. The intensity is a big adjustment from under-21s football, but I’ve improved a lot towards the end of the season.”
He added, “Having a full season with frequent games has been different but enjoyable. The environment isn’t new, but the demanding schedule is. In PL2, teams are younger and aim to play football, but here, teams are direct and know their strategy. Even with a 2-0 lead, you must stay alert for counter-attacks and chances.”
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