Pekhart excites Poortvliet (From Daily Echo)

Pekhart excites Poortvliet

12:38am Wednesday 27th August 2008 in

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Jan Poortvliet says he is excited about the signing of striker Tomas Pekhart.

Saints wrapped up a loan deal until January with Tottenham for the 19-year-old just before the start of yesterday's 2-0 win over Birmingham in the Carling Cup.

Pekhart stayed to watch his new teammates from the St Mary's director's box and will no doubt have been impressed by what he saw.

The Czech Republic under-21 international has become a prolific goalscorer at academy and reserve team level since moving to Spurs from Slavia Prague.

Last season he scored 19 goals in 20 academy and reserve team matches but Spurs felt the time was right for him to go out and get first team experience and they believe Saints is the best place for him to go.

Poortvliet, who has been saying for the last couple of weeks he needed another striker as back up for Stern John and David McGoldrick, is delighted with his new signing.

He said: "He's a great finisher.

"He's played for the Czech under-21s and in the last game he was watched and they tell us he had a great game.

"At Tottenham he had 19 goals in 20 games last year.

"He's a big boy, a finisher and a quick boy.

"We shall see but we are looking forward to seeing him.

"It's what we need to go forward to make our team stronger.

"I talk every day to the players and say we need competition under each other to make yourself better.

"Then when you make yourselves better you go for prizes or whatever you like."

Saints beat off competition from Plymouth to land the highly rated Czech Republic under-21 international whose progress has been watched closely by first team coach Dave Hockaday.

He said: "I've seen him a couple of times during my role as under-18s coach last year and he has impressed me.

"I made a mental note about him at the time and we were made aware that Spurs were very interested in letting him come to us, because of the style of play we've now adopted.

"Tomas has averaged over two goals every three games in his career so far. He's a goal machine.

"He's big and tall, and he is very keen to come to Southampton and play first team football and improve his game."