Dusan Tadic’s second season at Saints could see the Serbian establish himself as one of the Premier League’s best attacking talents.

The mercurial midfielder gave a tantalising glimpse into the future at the weekend as he produced some pure magic as Saints secured their first win of pre-season with a 3-0 victory over Tadic’s former club FC Groningen.

Tadic tricked and played through opponents seemingly at will, unleashing his qualities.

It’s exactly the sort of thing Saints fans enjoyed in the first third of last season.

While Graziano Pelle’s goalscoring antics stole much of the early thunder, it was really the form of Tadic that impressed most and created many of the chances.

He appeared the most outrageously talented player, of that kind, to have graced the Saints shirt since Matt Le Tissier. To even mention another player in the same breath as the great man is testament to just how good he is.

As if proof were needed, with around a third of the season gone there was talk as to whether he could potentially even break the Premier League record for assists in one season, such was the rate at which he was notching them up.

However, like so many players in that position, it is physicality rather than talent that can hold them back.

Tadic is no weakling, no waif of a player, but a first season in the Premier League took its toll quicker than might have been hoped.

Suddenly his form started to waiver, and a niggling injury that he never quite got over was proof that physically it was just a bit too much for him, especially without the comfort of a winter break which he had been accustomed to.

It’s not exactly an unusual story when players come to England from abroad, but the second season is usually the key as to whether they will ever adapt or not.

Much has been said and written about Morgan Schneiderlin recently.

He is an example of an outrageous talent who came from abroad, initially struggled physically but developed himself to cope with it. For players who are that good, it’s just finding that missing ingredient.

Though we hope for more in this coming season, it is the opposite of Gaston Ramirez.

He is another player with all the talent you could want, but who, despite working hard, just hasn’t as yet been able to come to terms with the pace and athleticism of the division.

We will discover a lot about Tadic this season.

If he and Saints have cured the problem, as they will no doubt have tried to have done, and have given him the physical platform from which to build his game, he could be an absolute gun player for them.

His ability to open up defences, his vision, his neat and intricate passing, particularly when teams park the bus at St Mary’s, could be the difference for them in so many games. It’s an exciting prospect given how much he trilled in the opening stages of last season.

With so many attacking options now for Ronald Koeman, with Juanmi and Ramirez similar types of players to Tadic, the workrate of Steven Davis, the pace of Sadio Mane, the all-round running form deep of Jay Rodriguez, and Shane Long too when used in a deeper role, and the delivery of James Ward-Prowse, it is clear that there is plenty of competition.

But still you feel that if Tadic can get it right then he will be a star not only at Saints but in the Premier League in general.

Though you can never take too much from pre-season matches, it was promising stuff at Groningen, for whom he played for two years earlier in his career.

It was an emotional return not just for him but also Ronald and Erwin Koeman, the brothers who now take charge of Saints but who started out at their hometown club.

Having lost their first few games in Austria, Saints wanted to start a proper build with the Europa League tie against Vitesse just around the corner.

They got everything they could really have wanted out of the Groningen match – a confidence boosting win, some real notice of the new signings bedding in and an experienced team looking like they might just pick up where they left off last season.

Saints were in total control from the start and came close several times in the opening stages.

Maya Yoshida and Shane Long put headers wide before the latter was denied by Groningen keeper Sergio Padt.

The pressure continued to build as Sadio Mane fired just wide before Victor Wanyama went closer still, heading Steven Davis’ cross against the bar.

Saints did break the deadlock from a set piece on 24 minutes as Tadic’s outswinging left wing corner was headed home by Jose Fonte from six yards out.

The nearest Groningen came in the first half was two efforts from Mimoun Mahi, both of which were saved by Paulo Gazzaniga.

Jordy Clasie came on at half time for his Saints bow and it took just seven minutes for Saints to double their lead.

Good interplay down the right between Cedric Soares and Tadic ended with a perfect cutback to Mane who had the relatively simple task of sidefooting home from eight yards out.

It was 3-0 on 72 minutes as some great skill from Tadic was followed by a defence splitting pass that allowed Graziano Pelle the chance to finish.

Gazzaniga did have a couple of further second half saves to make but Saints were good value for their first win of pre-season, which would have been by a more comfortable margin had Fonte and Pelle not had late chances cleared off the line.

Saints now have two clear days of training and recovery before facing KVV Quick tomorrow night. They round off the tour to Holland with a prestige friendly against Feyenoord on Thursday.