Southampton development may come as a surprise to Reading FC, Middlesbrough

Southampton development may come as a surprise to Reading FC, Middlesbrough

When the Southampton starting lineup for their Premier League match against Brighton was announced at 7 p.m. on

Friday, Middlesbrough and Reading supporters might have been taken aback.

Given his difficulties at both Boro and the Royals, they would have been taken aback to see their former custodian,

Joe Lumley, picked in the starting lineup for the Saints. Lumley made his Premier League debut at the age of 29.

Lumley is by no means a Southampton regular starter; in fact, he is arguably the team’s fourth choice this season,

behind Aaron Ramsdale, Gavin Bazunu, and Alex McCarthy. However, due to an injury crisis that prevented the

three from starting, the 29-year-old was called up for his first appearance in the top flight.

Joe Lumley’s Premier League debut would have astonished Reading and Middlesbrough.

Before starting as the Hoops’ first pick for the 2018–19 season, Lumley had a number of loan stints at non-league

and EFL clubs after starting his senior career in the Championship with QPR.

But it didn’t last long, as he signed a contract to join Boro in 2021 after spending more time on loan at Gillingham

and Doncaster Rovers in 2020.

He joined Reading, another Championship team, and was a member of a Royals team that was demoted to League

One after giving up 57 goals in 41 games. Although his tenure at the club started poorly, as he made a costly error in a

4-0 loss to Rotherham United, he did end up winning the Players’ Player of the Year award.

When his two-year contract with Boro ended that summer, he was cut loose and left without a club until Russell

Martin signed him as a third-choice player.

Lumley appeared to be a good stand-in for Bazunu and McCarthy, but it was unexpected that Martin brought him to

the club, in part because of their well-documented argument after Reading’s victory against Swansea City in

December 2022.

Given the players in front of him, he didn’t play in the Championship when Southampton won promotion to the

Premier League, which made it seem unlikely that he would play in the top division. However, an injury crisis made

it possible for him to call himself a Premier League player, something that Reading and Boro fans can now claim.

Joe Lumley performed admirably on his Premier League debut

Lumley was inserted at the deep end at the Amex Stadium when McCarthy, who began for the Saints in their loss to

Liverpool last weekend, was unable to hold onto his position in the starting XI due to a knee injury.

Although playing for a team at the bottom of the league in dire need of points made it far from ideal for him to make

his Premier League debut, he did a great job, making four saves, having an 80% save percentage, and a 79.5%

passing accuracy according to Fotmob. He also didn’t look out of place, which pleased his manager.

After the game, Martin told the Daily Echo, “I’m proud of him. He is deserving.

“He is an excellent team player. Outstanding personality. It’s not charitable. He was worthy of playing tonight. Lummers arrived as Al struggled with his knee. Last season, he was a fantastic player in the Cup.

“So tonight, I’m incredibly proud of him. I’m quite pleased for him.

Lumley is now officially a Premier League player, which may surprise opposing club supporters, but it’s something

that no one can ever take away from him. It’s unclear if he will play any more games in the top division this season.

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