Southampton centre-back Martin Caceres made his first appearance for the club’s Under-23 side on Monday night as he looks to get back to full fitness.

The Uruguayan, who moved to St Mary’s on a free transfer last month after the club failed to bring in a replacement for Jose Fonte during the January window, was part of a defence that kept a clean sheet against their Chelsea counterparts, and Saints fans were certainly impressed with the former Barcelona and Juventus man’s showing.

With Fonte gone and Virgil van Dijk currently ruled out because of injury, it has meant that Claude Puel has had to pick Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens at the heart of the defence in recent weeks.

The Frenchman will know that he needs cover for the duo over the course of the rest of the campaign, but will also be aware of the quality and experience that Caceres can bring in their remaining Premier League fixtures, despite the fact that he hasn't played a competitive match in more than a year.

Here are THREE reasons that Caceres must be named in the starting XI vs Tottenham on March 19…

To tighten up a shaky defence

Despite the fact that Southampton have been improving in an attacking sense in recent weeks – thanks to the introduction of Manolo Gabbiadini – they have certainly struggled at the back.

Saints conceded three goals against West Ham, Manchester United in the EFL Cup Final and Watford in the Premier League on Saturday, and Claude Puel will know that isn’t good enough if they are to win the majority of their top flight matches.

Although the responsibility of the team defending must come as a whole, much of the scrutiny will come upon Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens, and Puel might choose to select the more experienced Caceres against a rampant Spurs frontline at White Hart Lane.

To stop Harry Kane

Southampton will come up against the Premier League’s top goalscorer in Harry Kane when they make the trip to the capital to face Spurs, and the threat of the in-form striker could have a bearing on Claude Puel’s team selection.

While Jack Stephens has performed admirably, he struggled against Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the EFL Cup Final and Puel could choose to instead pick Caceres, who has experience of playing against – and nullifying the threat of – some of the top strikers in the game.

His distribution

While he is a proven defender, Claude Puel would have been impressed with Caceres’ quality on the ball when he saw the Uruguayan in action at St Mary’s on Monday – even though it was effectively a reserve team game.

The 29-year-old got himself out of a couple of tight situations thanks to his calmness and composure, and that could be a skill that is required at White Hart Lane against a Spurs side that like to press high up the pitch.

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