AFC Bournemouth
Despite recently becoming a father, Jack Stephens will not be having any sleepless nights about AFC Bournemouth’s relegation battle.
Just before Christmas, Stephens and his partner Katie celebrated the birth of their first child, son Reuben George Stephens.
“He’s been really good,” beamed proud dad Stephens, who joined the Cherries on loan from Southampton at the end of the summer transfer window.
“My partner has been great and she understands my job is very physical and I need to be in as good a condition as I can be every day.
“She’s been brilliant with the baby. I try to help out as much as I can but, fortunately, she lets me sleep so I haven’t had any sleepless nights!"
Stephens has turned in some impressive displays for the Cherries and was voted Dafabet man of the match for his exploits in last month’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle and the 1-0 win against Wolves.
His five starts in the Premier League have coincided with the Cherries keeping clean sheets at Molineux and in the 3-0 home win against Everton as well as draws with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.
“I’ve enjoyed everything since I’ve been here,” said Stephens. “It’s taken me a little while to get in the team and to get a run which was always going to happen because we were doing well when I first arrived.
“Now I’m in the team, I’m enjoying playing and feel like I’m getting into a bit of a rhythm. Hopefully, I can play well and help the team pick up some vital points.
“As I get older and more experienced, I start to understand the reasons why I wasn’t in the team when I first came and I’ve got no issues with that.
“I’ve had plenty of conversations with the gaffer who was very clear and very honest with me. We had some good chats which helped me progress and eventually get in the team.”
Stephens, who has played 122 games in the Premier League for Southampton, is no stranger to a relegation scrap having narrowly avoided the drop in 2017/18.
The Saints went into the final three games of the season – away to Everton and Swansea and at home to runaway leaders Manchester City – in the bottom three, a point adrift of safety.
And although suspension ruled Stephens out of a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park, he was a rock at the heart of their defence as Mark Hughes’s team triumphed 1-0 in South Wales to all but secure their top-flight status.
“It’s important to recognise the situation we are in,” said Stephens. “As a promoted club, the first aim is to try to stay in the division and I know how hard that can be.
“In 2018, it went right to the wire and that could happen again this season, although we want to get out of it as soon as we can.
“To be in the bottom three with three games to go doesn’t necessarily mean you’re down, it’s where you are after the final game of the season. We need to keep picking up positive results and gain momentum on the teams around us.”
One of those “teams around us” happens to be Stephens’ parent club Southampton who are currently four points adrift at the foot of the table.
Torpoint-born Stephens, who progressed through the ranks at his local club Plymouth Argyle, has been dubbed the ‘Cornish Maldini’ by some Saints fans.
“They’ve called me a few other things as well!” laughed the 29-year-old. “One minute you’re being called that and, the next, you’re being called useless.
“It’s all good fun and I take it all with a pinch of salt. I’m pretty sure there’s nobody out there that actually thinks I’m like Maldini!
“I’ve learned over the years how up and down football can be. One week you can be the main man, the next you can be at rock bottom.
“I try to stay as level as possible. When things are going well, I try to keep it level. And when things aren’t going so well, you try not to get too low.
“I’ve played enough games at this level now to understand things can change very quickly.
“I just try to concentrate on my performance, how I can help the team and what the manager wants me to bring to the team. If I can do that every game then that’s all I’m worried about.”
Stephens will be ineligible to face Southampton at St Mary’s in April, as he was when the teams met at Vitality Stadium in October when Che Adams’ goal settled the contest in favour of the visitors.
Having been on Saints’ books for almost 12 years, Stephens has understandably kept an eye on recent events at the club but admits the Cherries are his main priority.
He said: “We’re in a relegation battle with Southampton so it’s a unique situation that I find myself in.
“I’m not sure it’s happened before where a player on loan has been in a direct relegation battle with their parent club.
“I’m not too sure how the Saints fans would react if I were to play against them but I can’t this season so that might be a good thing to be honest.
“I try not to take too much notice with what’s going on there because my sole focus is here and what we’re doing and how we can improve our situation.
“I’ve still got a lot of friends there and I’ve spent many years with some of the staff. Of course, I wish them well but my first priority is Bournemouth and I want us to be in the Premier League next season.”
Stephens will be hoping to keep his place when the Cherries face Premier League leaders Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
Previewing the game, he said: “They are having a brilliant season and have done really well to be where they are, especially after the disappointment of missing out on the top four last season. To bounce back and be challenging for the title is a massive achievement for them.
“They play a similar way to Manchester City with the Arteta/Guardiola connection so it’s going to be another really tough game.
“Hopefully, we can learn from the City game and take the good things because there were a lot. We will go there looking to get a positive result.”
