3 things Puel’s Southampton must improve ahead of the run in

Score more goals

Southampton’s tally of 28 goals in the Premier League this season is the least of any side in the top 11, and only higher than five other clubs, two of which are in the bottom three.

And when your top-scorer is Charlie Austin with six, and he hasn’t played in the league since December 3 with injury, it’s clear that you’ve got issues in the final third.

It’s not through the lack of trying – in fact the Saints have created 279 chances in the Premier League this season, which is more than the likes of West Ham (244) and West Brom (188), both of whom are above them in the table, and have actually netted more times (both 34) than the Saints.

Yet, they need to be more clinical, and the signing of Manolo Gabbiadini will go some way to addressing that, given that he has already netted three times in just two games, but the other forwards players will also need to chip in.

The 4-0 thumping of Sunderland was a good start – they need to follow that through over the coming weeks and months.