Heading into the summer, the number one priority was clear and obvious to the vast majority who had observed Saints' slide down the table to end the 2021/22 season: recruit a real number one striker.

Armando Broja and Shane Long departed but outside of Sekou Mara, no other striker arrived at St Mary's. In fairness, Sport Republic attempted to sign Cody Gakpo but the failure to get that deal over the line meant failure to upgrade the forward options at all.

READ MORE: Saints Mid-Season Squad Assessment: The Goalkeeping Department

That left Che Adams as Saints go-to striker with support from Adam Armstrong and Mara. Unsurprisingly, the lack of a star striker has been just as problematic as many would have predicted.

Sants have lost four games by the same 1-0 scoreline and a further fifth game 2-1. Small margins have decided the success of Saints' early season and missed chances have hurt them dearly.

It in no small part led to Ralph Hasenhuttl's exit and it will be a major problem for Nathan Jones to solve as well. Adams leads the goalscoring charts with four but after him is just a mess of attacking nothingness.

Not that Adams has been perfect either. For a full assessment of Saints strikers and attacking players, click the link below:

https://streamyard.com/vaab5um8fdg6

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