Former Southampton player Carlton Palmer believes that Shane Long’s best Premier League days are behind him.
The 34-year-old has featured in over 330 top flight matches for Reading, West Brom, Hull City and Southampton combined, scoring over 50 goals and providing over 30 assists.
Prior to the international break, Long was a part of the Saints’ Premier League matchday squad on three occasions, but made just one appearance which came against Wolverhampton Wanderers where he played 16 minutes. He also played a part in the Carabao Cup against Newport County, featuring for 25 minutes.
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Whilst Palmer believes Long’s best Premier League days are behind him, he believes he could still do a job at a top Championship side.
“I think Shane’s 34 now. I think his best Premier League days are behind him, so I think for Shane obviously he wants to play football – you don’t want to sit on the bench.
“I think a top Championship club is where Shane would go and would score goals. I mean, obviously he’s on Premier League money so it would have to be a top Championship club but yeah, I think that writing’s on the wall that Shane will be moving on. I can’t see Southampton offering him an extension to his contract,” Palmer told This is Futbol.
Long has until June 2022 to run on his contract and spent the second half of last season on loan at AFC Bournemouth in the Championship and according to Hampshire Live, they understood had an offer have come in for Long during the summer he may have been able to move either on loan or permanently but a move failed to materialise, and he stayed with the Saints beyond the August 31 deadline.