CHUMBAWAMBA! AARON RAMSDALE'S COMEBACK PLEDGE EXPLAINED AS HE TARGETS ENGLAND RECALL

The Oasis reunion has taken the UK by storm but you’ll slightly more niche knowledge of the country’s 1990s guitar music scene to know what Aaron Ramsdale was talking about prior to Southampton’s Premier League match against Manchester United.

Ramsdale impressed when Arsenal finished as Premier League runners-up to Manchester City in 2022/23 but lost his place as Gunners No. 1 to new recruit David Raya during the early stages of last season.

The 26-year-old joined Southampton for £25million ($32.8m) last month and is relishing the challenge after making his debut in the 3-1 defeat at Brentford prior to the international break.

“Definitely back stronger. Chumbawamba!” Ramsdale told TNT Sport before starting against United.

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Ramsdale’s reference was to veteran punk group Chumbawamba and their global smash hit from 1997, “Tubthumping”. The singalong chorus to that track is: “I get knocked down, but I get up again.”

“To be back playing, it’s what I started out doing as a kid. Playing for the love of the game,” Ramsdale said, after being restricted to six Premier League outings last season.

“Being back playing football is the main part but I think for myself as well I’m just more of a happy human now, going home seeing my little boy.”

Is Aaron Ramsdale good with his feet?

Southampton boss Russell Martin is committed to playing out from the back, a style Ramsdale relishes despite losing out to Raya in part due to perceived deficiencies with his feet.

“From where I've been, it's what I've known for the past three of four years,” he said. “It’s a bit different here, every manager is different. The manager here has given me the freedom to play but if I make a decision and have something to back it up with he has no complaints.”

Ramsdale was glad of the opportunity to build an understanding with his new team-mates over the international break but is keen to get back in the England fold having been a squad regular under Gareth Southgate.

"It was disappointing not to get called up but at the end of the day I spent 10, 12 days with my new team-mats and really forged some great relationships,” he added.

“My focus isn’t really on getting back in [the England squad]. My focus is to win games of football here at Southampton and play well. If we do that then I think the football takes care of itself and I think I’ll find myself back in the squad.

“It’s never nice missing out on squads. It’s where I want to be on international breaks.”

2024-09-14T11:43:18Z dg43tfdfdgfd