I was sure I posted something earlier on this thread, but I can't find it. Just to reiterate what I thought I'd already said, I'm glad of the outcome. I've posted in the past that I didn't see the opposite parties coming together to resolve their differences, but I think the events have finally made it the sensible move. Puncheon has always wanted to play, that we've known, but he couldn't play for Saints. Since his loan deals have stopped and Saints assessment of his value hasn't been matched by other clubs, we've had a perfectly good footballer kicking his heels, wondering what's going to happen to his career. Then along comes the winter injury list, which just happens to be affecting our wide midfielders, amongst others. Eventually, it becomes obvious that a principle being carried along thus far is starting to look a bit silly. So all parties take the pragmatic view and the right ones do the apologising, and promise to do their best, and the right ones do the accepting and say that from now on they'll forget the past and suddenly we have a new, and very capable wide midfielder who hasn't cost anything.
Now what we need is for Puncheon to come on in a 65th minute substitution and either score, or provide the assist, for a winning goal. That would give him back his confidence, which I'm sure must be a bit dented, Saints wise, the players to gather round and pat him on the back, and for Nicola and Nigel to realise they've come to the right assessment i.e. we gave him another chance.