REJUVENATED from becoming one of Saints’ key men, Mohammed Salisu added his first goal for the club midweek at Sheffield United, prompting Ralph Hasenhuttl to say: “I must say he learned very quick.”

Just ten days ago, the Daily Echo reported Hasenhuttl’s verdict on the Ghanaian defender that he was very happy with how “nasty” he was in the tackle, but the Austrian boss said he needed improvement on the ball.

According to the gaffer, he’s already seen that improvement enough to call it out after the EFL Cup tie that Saints edged following a penalty shootout to secure passage to the last 16.

Hasenhuttl said: ““Yeah, definitely. He is strong against the ball and good on the man - we always knew from the beginning.

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“Now he also adapts his game with the ball more and more, he is more and more patient on the ball and this is what we need, definitely, because finding the right solutions in the right moments is key of being in the game, in the zones where we want to have it.

“I must say he learned very quick, yes.”

The comments come in the wake of his first Saints goal, the 22-year-old arriving expertly at the right place to tap home from close-range Nathan Tella’s driven cross, following a corner.

The prior match away to Manchester City was actually the first Premier League game of the season that Hasenhuttl hadn’t opted with Salisu to start, suggesting that he wanted those who felt could play better on the ball to combat City’s style.

Daily Echo: The close-range conversion was only his second-ever professional goal (Pic: PA)The close-range conversion was only his second-ever professional goal (Pic: PA)

But he was forced on before half-time following Jack Stephens’ injury, and went on to excel and keep a second consecutive clean sheet in the top division – only his second, too – after Saints had only managed one in the whole rest of 2021.

With Stephens now expected to be out for up to three months, Salisu and Jan Bednarek will likely start every game as a pairing until the New Year.

Hasenhuttl added: “I think he had a long time to adapt to our game, to the Premier League now. This season he plays every game and does a good job I think.

“I am very happy for him that he scored a goal. It’s good for him and good for us.”