Shane Long has been itching for a chance to prove himself this season and he grabbed it with both hands at Chelsea.

The £12m man has found himself in and out of the side during his first year at St Mary’s, unable to get a regular run of games.

As well as a recent injury, the chief reason for that has been Graziano Pelle.

Pelle started the season like a stream train, banging in goals for fun.

More recently the scoring has dried up but Pelle remained an integral part of the side, due to his physical presence and power and all-round game. He allowed Saints to play a more direct style when they needed to.

It left Long, a different type of player, having to sit and wait patiently for an opportunity.

Generally when they have arrived they have been in his less favoured positions, out wide or playing a little deeper off of Pelle.

With Pelle off colour at the moment Ronald Koeman decided the time was right to give Long a go at Chelsea through the middle as the lone striker.

The very fact that Saints produced an excellent display to bag a 1-1 draw is proof that it was effective.

Long and Pelle are always going to be different types of players simply because of their physiques, but having the Republic of Ireland international up there didn’t change Saints’ style as much as many would imagine.

Long is surprisingly good in the air, and what he gives you at all times is a phenomenal work ethic.

He tried to stay central but is quite prepared to run the channels, to chase and harry defenders and press high up the field.

He is also well capable of dropping deep and held the ball up well, linking up play.

Though Long was only an occasional goal threat, Pelle has struggled so much recently that he was not likely to be judged on that in this particular game.

For all of that though perhaps the most significant move from Koeman was playing Sadio Mane in a central attacking position again.

Mane was on fire in that role before injury and Africa Cup of Nations duty and, despite Saints subsequently struggling for goals, didn’t move back into that position until Sunday.

He caused utter mayhem to Chelsea again and surely will remain there for the time being at least.

Long, like Pelle, is intelligent enough to know his role in that combination. He is looking to win enough knockdowns, drop in to create enough space for Mane to run in behind and generally provide a solid and steady presence, and his performance at Stamford Bridge suggests he will retain his place as Saints take on Burnley this weekend.