Stephen Kenny insists Gavin Bazunu is having a better season than statistics suggest.
And the Ireland boss is backing his goalkeeper to produce in the big Euros showdown with France.
Bazunu’s first season in the Premier League has been a slog with Southampton rock bottom of the table.
His save percentage of 57% is also the second lowest of 109 goalkeepers across the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga and Ligue 1.
Only Mark Travers - Ireland’s third choice goalkeeper - is ahead of him in that regard but Kenny claims the stats don’t paint a true picture.
“I had discussions about that with (Ireland goalkeeper coach) Dean Kiely - about those stats, the save percentages.
“They’ve always been around but that’s a guy coming out of a course, just ticking a box - that's a save, that’s a save - and then they correlate the figures from that.
“I’m not dismissing blind statistics. I’m sure a lot of the statistics are important. But it’s hard to read the context of statistics.
“I think Gavin has played well recently. It’s hard for a young goalkeeper to get an opportunity. I said that to Mark Travers as well.
“You get promoted, he was ever-present and got promoted with Bournemouth, did so well, and then you are replaced. It’s hard.
“There are not many young goalkeepers in the Premier League. It’s hard for young goalkeepers to get an opportunity.”
Kenny also feels that mistakes made by young goalkeepers are highlighted more than those at the top clubs.
He continued: “Gavin had a few clean sheets recently and sometimes, as a young goalkeeper, if a goal goes in that he maybe could have got, we highlight that.
“But we don't if it's Ederson or Alisson. We say ‘Well, they’re the best goalkeepers, that happens’. Or even De Gea, we don’t really focus on the mistakes.
“We look at the goals they have saved. But when a young keeper does it, it seems to become magnified.
“Gavin is having a good spell at the moment, a better spell. There are not many goals going past him in the last few weeks and he’s playing well.”
Meanwhile, Evan Ferguson will be made to sweat a little longer over a starting role against France.
The Brighton teenager has been a Premier League revelation this season and won his first senior caps in the November friendlies.
But there is a public clamour for the 18-year-old to get the nod in the opening Euro 2024 qualifier against Les Blues on March 27.
Kenny admits that Ferguson is ahead of schedule and that his form is hard to ignore.
But asked if there was even a debate needed as to whether the Meath man starts, Kenny said last night: “Listen, we’ll have to wait and see.
“It’s something I'll discuss with the team. I’m not going to make statements now, in the press saying there is no debate that he’s not going to start.
“He’s shown a lot of qualities. We’re delighted with him and it’s a great boost for us that he’s emerged.
“He has different characteristics and it’s interesting what Brighton do, what they ask of him, and it’s very clear and concise.”
The hype around Ferguson will continue to build ahead of next Wednesday’s friendly with Latvia in Dublin.
But Kenny is backing the ex-Bohemians striker to handle it.
“I don’t think it’s been excessive and it helps that he’s quite level-headed, and so are his family.
“He seems to take everything in his stride and I don’t think he’s been overhyped in the media.
“His father (Barry) was a professional, a good man who is guiding him, more so than I even need to. His family can take the credit for that.
“He’s not been overexposed. Brighton didn’t start him on Wednesday night, they brought him on and that’s good for him. It’s still very early for him but it’s great to see.”
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