RALPH Hasenhuttl has shown faith to Saints attacker Nathan Redmond through a struggle to contribute goals, insisting: “It’s always good to see the quality on the ball is definitely there.” Some supporters are growing frustrated with Redmond’s apparent hesitancy on the ball when he approaches the final third, allowing organised Premier League defences to negate the threat and force play to go backwards. And Hasenhuttl has identified that, despite starting him in every game between the two international breaks, he isn’t offering the full package at present.
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “I think with Reddy it’s always good to see the quality on the ball is definitely there. He has definitely some threats, you can also see that the opponent goes on the back foot because when he goes one against one he is quick. What we are missing is his finish, his goalscoring part I think. He knows this. Finally, he has played a lot of games so far and didn’t score I think and this is what we are missing.”
Saints haven’t scored from open play in the Premier League since, ironically, Redmond’s best performance of the season so far – back at Newcastle where the substitute’s play helped create both goals. Moi Elyounoussi bundled home a rebound to equalise initially from Redmond’s tantalising cross into the back-post, before Adam Armstrong won the penalty converted by James Ward-Prowse with the last kick of the game after running through on goal from a clever Redmond slip between defenders.
Ralph Hasenhuttl added: “This (an increased goal threat) is what we need, especially up front, he has played as a striker and played as a 10. We need from these positions more of a goal threat and that will help us massively if so.”