Morgan Schneiderlin has admitted his debt of gratitude to former boss Alan Pardew after agreeing terms on a new four-year contract.

The French midfielder, who has been in superb form for Saints since their return to the Premier League, revealed it was Pardew who added the defensive skills to his natural passing game that has made him the player he is today.

Schneiderlin who this week penned a deal to keep him at St Mary’s until 2017, was once nicknamed ‘ZZ’ by former coach Dean Wilkins, who likened the midfielder’s talents to those of French legend Zinedine Zidane.

Now, though, Schneiderlin has adapted his game, making him one of the most under-rated players in the top flight – and thanks Pardew for doing that.

“He was the one saying to me to improve on my defensive skills,” he said.

“He was the one who was telling me ‘come on, you need more tackling.’ “So, thanks go to him and his words every day saying that to me.”

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