Southampton have hit a decent run of form in the last few weeks, having initially made a sluggish start to the season under new manager Claude Puel.

The Frenchman took over from Ronald Koeman in the summer, but didn’t get off to the greatest of starts as his Saints side failed to win any of their first four Premier League matches.

However, Puel’s side have picked up in recent weeks, winning three of their last four league matches, and embarked on a seven-match unbeaten run prior to Thursday’s 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan in the Europa League.

The Saints were unfortunate to lose at the San Siro, but victory over Sparta Prague and a draw at Hapoel Be’er Shava means that Puel’s men still have a good chance of qualifying from Group K.

Unsurprisingly, there have been a number of excellent performances in the Southampton side over the last few years, but there are a few that seem to go unnoticed by fans of other clubs.

Here are THREE underrated Southampton players…

Steven Davis

Steven Davis is probably one of the most underrated players in the Premier League.

Arriving on a free transfer in 2012, the 31-year-old has been a mainstay in the Southampton midfield under four different managers, appearing 165 times in the last four seasons.

The Northern Ireland captain is capable of doing any job in the midfield, and his incredible work-rate and ability both on and off the ball allows the likes of Dusan Tadic and Charlie Austin to score and create goals.

Southampton miss his presence when he’s not in the side.

Maya Yoshida

Maya Yoshida might not be Puel’s first choice centre-back, getting in front of Jose Fonte and Virgil Van Dijk is hardly easy, but he always does a job when he’s called upon.

Ever since his move to St Mary’s following their promotion from the Championship in 2012, the Japanese international has been a solid and reliable defender, even if he never really nailed down a first team spot.

He has started five games this season, and they are matches in which Southampton have only conceded once.

Yoshida continues to give Puel the security of a capable centre-back option if Fonte and/or Van Dijk ever got injured or suspended.

Shane Long

A £12 million move, and just 15 Premier League goals – you’d be forgiven for thinking that Shane Long is actually overrated.

But it’s what he does for the team, be it when starting or coming off the bench, which largely goes unnoticed.

His incredible energy and tireless running into channels and pressing from the front sets the tone for the whole side, and buys into what the Southampton managers of his time want to see from their team.

Defenders do not get any time when Long is playing and, with Charlie Austin fit and firing and Nathan Redmond also playing well, the Irishman’s contributions will likely continue to go under the radar.