Ronald Koeman believes Saints are beginning to see the best of centre-half Florin Gardos.

The 26-year-old has been a fringe player since arriving from Romanian club Steaua Bucharest in the summer, but has had a bigger role recently.

Gardos started in the victories against Crystal Palace and Arsenal, while he came on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea.

Koeman said the Romanian international will be particularly important this month, with Maya Yoshida having departed St Mary’s for a few weeks, to represent Japan in the Asian Cup.

“I think he’s now on his level, what he needs to play,” said the Saints boss.

“He had a difficult start after when he came to the club, in a physical way, in a technical way, to develop himself to this level what you need as a centre-back and he has more confidence now.

“He showed that when he came in against Chelsea, he showed that [against Arsenal], and that’s good, because we need Florin, because now Maya is away to the Asian Cup and we don’t have a lot of defenders.

“It’s a good sign, because he’s now on the level what we need and what he needs to play himself.”