Dean Wilkins compares Morgan Schneiderlin to Zinedine Zidane

Wilkins has been impressed by the way Schneiderlin has added an extra element of aggression to his game in his second season in English football.

He believes the player shares many qualities with World Cup winner Zidane and is trying to boost the midfielder’s self belief.

Ahead of Saints’ trip to seventh placed Walsall tomorrow, Wilkins said: “I refer to him as ‘ZZ’ at times and he says ‘no, no, no’ but I think he has to have that belief that he can hit those heights and reach that level.

“We’re all going to try and bring that out in him.

“It’s up to him to try and get that self belief as well.

“He’s got that ability to manipulate the ball with both feet, with the inside of his foot, with the outside of his foot.

“However much pressure he’s under he’s got that ability to get out of a tight situation and Zidane is probably the best there’s ever been for doing that.

“We have a bit of fun with that, but there’s a serious side to that as well.”