Following the summer signing of Kyle Walker-Peters from Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton right-back Yan Valery has struggled for a spot in Ralph Hasenhuttl's team, and perhaps the South Coast club should consider loaning him out in January.

The French defender is yet to make an appearance for the Saints' first-team so far this season and has only made the bench on three occasions, as he has been dropped to the U'23s for a few fixtures so far this campaign (per Transfermarkt).

The 21-year-old looked set for a bright future with Southampton after establishing himself in the first-team in the 2018/19 season, when he made 23 appearances in the top-flight, contributing two goals and one assist (per Transfermarkt).

However, he failed to really push on from there, as he made 11 appearances in the top-flight last season, due to the loan arrival of Walker-Peters, as well as him suffering from a virus that kept him out for two months between November and January.

Considering his lack of minutes this season, as well as the form of Walker-Peters, perhaps Hasenhuttl should consider loaning out the 21-year-old in the upcoming January transfer window, to ensure that his progress isn't stifled too much.

He would surely have plenty of suitors from the top two divisions, having earned plenty of Premier League experience in his career thus far and it would surely benefit both parties if Valery was to get some much-needed first-team football out on loan, rather than just being a back-up with Southampton.

However, this could be a risky decision from the Saints, as Valery and Walker-Peters are the only two senior right-backs in the senior squad, so if the former Spurs man were to suffer an injury, it would mean having to play another player out of position, or trusting someone from the academy, if Valery had already departed on loan.

After he signed a new contract until 2023, Hasenhuttl was full of praise for the defender, saying:

"I am very happy first that he has made good development in the last month.

"He has got a lot of trust from my side and he grabbed the chance with both hands.

"His development was good, so it's a very important sign for us as a club and for him that he signs a new contract."

"It depends on his work and his ability, but we see Yan working very hard and working on his deficits he still has in his game.

"But I think he is a perfect example of The Southampton Way that we want to go in." (per Southampton)

Therefore, the Austrian manager is clearly a big fan of Valery but if he wants to ensure that his progress isn't stifled, he needs to bite the bullet and send the French U'21 international out on loan.

And, in other news... Southampton sold lazy flop at the perfect time; he's sat on the bench now