NATHAN Jones revealed Saints midfielder Moi Elyounoussi has been playing through pain to make himself available for selection. The Norwegian international has started each of the last 10 Premier League games for the club, and has only been rested twice in all competitions under Jones’s stewardship. Elyounoussi’s versatility sees him deployed wherever the manager needs him, while his attitude and demeanour have been positively noted by multiple members of the club. His latest start came in the 2-1 victory at Everton’s Goodison Park, in which Elyounoussi played as many as three positions before making way in the 85th minute. And asked just how useful it is to have a player like the 28-year-old, Jones responded: “It’s always good to have a versatile player.
Nathan Jones said: “He played wide left for Norway, he has played for me as a six, he has played as a wide man and he even played as wing-back against Liverpool. It’s important to have someone you can trust and trust to do a certain job. They might not be as fluent as someone else, but while we’re finding our way, he’s been vital. He’s been playing through pain in his knee and he had strapping on it today but he shows real character because not everybody does that. I don’t mean at Southampton, in the world. Moi has been fantastic for me.”
Elyounoussi’s Saints contract is due to expire at the end of the season but the manager has already revealed he wants him to stay.
Nathan Jones said: “That will be dealt with internally, but I would like him to be here at the club for a lot longer.”
Elyounoussi has played 74 times for Saints, scoring eight goals and providing eight assists, while he also spent two seasons on loan at Celtic before a 2021 return.
