Gavin Bazunu: The mental fortitude required to deal with being a top-level goalkeeper

Currently, Bazunu's Southampton lie 10th in the table but only second from bottom Rotherham United have conceded more goals after 11 games.

'FIGHTING FOR MY PLACE': Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu during a Republic of Ireland press conference at FAI Headquarters. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

In the days after Southampton’s 5-0 hammering against Sunderland, a popular Saints fanzine posted an article titled ‘It’s time to talk about Gavin Bazunu.’ And unfortunately for the young Irish goalkeeper, it wasn’t for positive reasons.

Following relegation in his first season at the club – they finished bottom of the Premier League – the English south coast club failed to make the strong start to the season on their return to the championship that their supporters had hoped for.