#PLStories- #MoiElyounoussi has a ‘lot of confidence’ after ‘decent week’ #SAINSTFC

RETURNING Moi Elyounoussi praised Saints' character to battle back twice to take a point against Newcastle, and says he is now playing with "a lot of confidence." The 27-year-old spent two years away from St Mary's on loan at Celtic, before returning to the fray this summer. After featuring during pre-season, Elyounoussi watched on as an unused substitute for Saints' opening two Premier League games against Everton and Manchester United. He came into the side for the Carabao Cup clash at Newport County, netting a hat-trick in the 8-0 win which saw him keep his spot for the trip to Newcastle a few days later. And Elyounoussi struck again at St James's Park. The Norway international's first Premier League goal cancelled out Callum Wilson's opener for the hosts, only for Allan Saint-Maximin to fire the Magpies in front again. But there was time for one late twist as James Ward-Prowse kept his cool to net from the penalty spot, deep into the stoppage time to earn a 2-2 draw, after Adam Armstrong had been fouled by a lunging Jamaal Lascelles. Reflecting on his four-goal haul across the two fixtures, Elyounoussi told the Daily Echo: "It’s been a decent week! Personally I just want to come back and show myself from a better side. "I have come back, had a full pre-season, I’m fit, no injuries, a lot of confidence." On the draw at St James's Park, he added: "One point was fair for both teams. Especially how it ended in the end. "We dominated in the first half, created a lot of chances to go into the lead. "But in the end we showed character to come back twice and get the well deserved point." After Lascelles had tripped Armstrong, no penalty was initially awarded, until VAR Mike Dean advised referee Paul Tierney to consult the pitchside monitor. He duly did and gave a spot-kick, which was slammed home by Ward-Prowse. "I thought straightaway that it was a penalty," insisted Elyounoussi. "Adam was kicked down and when Prowsey stepped up, I think everybody knew that he was going to put it in. So I was very, very confident." The penalty was netted in front of the Saints fans, up high in the stands, after their longest trip of the season to the north east. "They were amazing, they were brilliant," said Elyounoussi. "I love to see so many fans travelling wherever we go, even on Wednesday in the cup game (at Newport). It’s a long trip as well and they were there, they were loud. "It’s really nice to give them something to cheer for on the way back home." Saints head into the international break sitting 13th in the embryonic table, with two points from their three matches.