Mauricio Pellegrino has challenged Sofiane Boufal to learn from his overzealous reaction to the wonder goal he scored against West Brom.

The Moroccan international let his frustration spill over after netting a dramatic winner against the Baggies, storming up the touchline to confront a manager who hasn’t given him too many chances this season.

Boufal appeared to fire some words in Pellegrino’s direction, which the manager took with great calm.

Pellegrino confirmed he has since spoken with Boufal about the incident, and has urged him to use it as a learning experience.

He said: “I have spoken with him about that.

“It is obviously something private but the only thing I can say is that I am happy with his action, his reaction on the pitch how he was playing in the last few games and not just the other day.

“If you make a change and want to make an impact on the game and Sofiane did it. That’s it.

“It is something Sofiane has to learn as a young lad to manage this type of reaction.

“It is something that can happen and we have to learn in this type of situation.”

Boufal’s mood is unlikely to improve if the goal doesn’t get him a recall for tomorrow’s south coast derby against Brighton at the Amex Stadium, but Pellegrino wasn’t giving much away about his team selection.

“It’s one possibility,” he said of starting £16m man Boufal. “I am happy with that because Sofiane I think in the last two or three games is playing well even when he came from the bench against Stoke or Newcastle.

“The other day obviously I am really happy with that because I want to improve the competition in the squad and Sofiane is a young lad and this action can give him more confidence to be better.”

Part of the problem for Boufal at Saints is that it hasn’t been entirely clear what position he is challenging for.

Pellegrino has a clear idea of where he believes the attacking talent is most effective, but admitted that it puts him into direct competition with Nathan Redmond.

“In my point of view Sofiane can play in the three different positions behind the striker,” he reflected. “In my opinion he is better on the left, but also I think that Nathan is better on the left to be honest.

“These are two players that when they go inside it’s really comfortable for them to shoot or to pass and to assist and be big players.

“They are also players that can go outside because they have the pace to do that and can cross, and are players with quality.

“For this reason sometimes I move them on the right, for example against Watford and changes position with Nathan. Nathan in the past has also played as a striker.

“The best for the team is the best for them.”