This article is part of Football FanCast's Off the Bench series, which places in-game managerial decisions and squad selections under FFC's microscope.

Southampton's three-game unbeaten run came to an end on Sunday following a disappointing 2-1 loss to Newcastle.

Ralph Hasenhuttl's men had previously drawn against Arsenal before winning back-to-back games against Watford and Norwich, helping them move out of the relegation zone on 15 points.

However, after the defeat at St James' Park, the Saints slipped back into the bottom three.

Snapshot

Hasenhuttl's side actually went 1-0 up against Steve Bruce's Newcastle, thank to Danny Ings' ninth Premier League goal of what is turning out to be an excellent campaign.

However, an equaliser from Jonjo Shelvey in the 68th-minute pegged Southampton back, before the Magpies snatched all three points in the 87th minute after Alex McCarthy spilled Sean Longstaff's strike from distance for Federico Fernandez to tap in.

However, something that Hasenhuttl did shortly after the centre-back's goal proved that he has little faith in one man.

Che Adams is suffering

Towards the end of November, we outlined how the Austrian coach had turned his back on Che Adams, a man who arrived at St Mary's back in the summer as part of a £15m deal.

Adams wasn't even part of the squad against Arsenal recently as Hasenhuttl opted for Ings, Michael Obafemi and Shane Long ahead of the Englishman, suggesting that there is currently a lack of faith in the summer signing.

Such a lack of faith continued to be evidenced when the former RB Leipzig striker subbed Adams onto the St James' Park turf in the 88th minute, giving him basically no time at all to do anything and handing him an uphill battle straight after Fernandez's goal.

It felt like merely a token gesture from Hasenhuttl, as if it was an attempt to prove that he does have faith in the 23-year-old, but isn't sold on him enough to give him a proper chance to be a part of the game - it is telling that Adams had just one touch after coming on.

It's looking pretty bleak for the 2018/19 Championship goal machine right now.

In other news, see which man attracted the anger of Southampton fans on Twitter following his performance against Newcastle...