Claude Puel has called on Saints fans to remain patient with Sofiane Boufal after the club record signing stunned St Mary’s with a breathtaking winner against Middlesbrough.

Boufal’s first Premier League goal, a searing strike form 25 yards, bagged Saints an important three points as they bounced back quickly from their Europa League disappointment.

With Boufal having already scored a wonder goal against Sunderland in the EFL Cup, and with Saints struggling to find the net, expectations on the £16m man are obviously rising.

Puel is trying to calm things down as the 23-year-old settles into life in England.

He said: “It is important to stay patient with him because he came here with an injury after five months and it’s always difficult to come back and find the good intensity and rhythm.

“For the first time it was a change of country and he didn’t know his partners and another football, another championship.

“We can see from the second half the quality of this player and now it’s important he continue his hard work, he learns the intensity of the game and the quality of all the players, all the team.

“I enjoy for him because he deserve to score this goal for the team and for him also.

“Now it’s important he continues this work.”

Boufal struggled a little out wide in the first half but thrived in a much more central position in the second.

“You change the system second half and we put Boufal in midfield to permit more solution between the lines of the opponent,” said Puel.

“It was difficult for Sofiane in the first half and it was not a good first half with the ball lost and this dribble without lucidity.

“He come back second half and with his partners with a good feeling and one touch and two touch and he can make the difference every time.

“He has fantastic quality.

“The first half was difficult and the second half with the good attitude.”

Puel was especially animated after Boufal scored and smiled: “I was happy for the player because I know the situation.

“After elimination (from the Europa League) and just we touch the qualification on Thursday and the last ball of Maya Yoshida 10 centimetres off the post.

“We pass the disappointment, a big disappointment, and it’s very hard for players to come back in the Premier League and give all the possibilities and a good reaction.

“I was happy for all the determination and the character of the players.

“They were certain and for this character and to see this character and the goal in the second half I was happy.”