JONATHAN Forte’s two-goal cameo showed just what he can bring to Saints’ potential promotion party.

Saints boss Nigel Adkins, who managed Forte at Scunthorpe before bringing him to St Mary’s, threw the pacy forward on with his side 2-0 down to fellow promotion hopefuls MK Dons.

The change could hardly have worked any better as just a few minutes later Forte had scored twice to level before Lee Barnard rammed home a winner.

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It was the first time Saints had come from two goals down to win since a 3- 2 success at Preston in the 2008/09 campaign.

Forte has not had many chances since joining Saints – Saturday’s appearance was his sixth off the bench and he has yet to start – but Adkins feels he showed a timely glimpse of his talent.

He said: “Credit to Jonno, he’s come to the football club, I brought him in from Scunthorpe, I know what he can go and do and I am pleased he got some good goals.

“We’ve got good players coming in.

“I know what he’s capable of and at the start of the season in the Championship for Scunthorpe he was doing ever so well.

“But things haven’t worked out for him as much as they could have done after I left Scunthorpe.

“He’s come in, he’s got that pace and power and he can score goals.”

With Alex Chamberlain out through injury, Adkins, left, opted for a diamond midfield to start with against MK Don.

But things really picked up for them after the introduction of Forte and Oldham loanee Dale Stephens, who came on for his debut.

“Their first goal gave them a foothold in the game and they could defend even deeper,” said Adkins.

“Then the onus is on us to break them down even more so.

“We played with the diamond shape which worked the first 10-15 minutes because we presented opportunities for ourselves, but we didn’t pass the ball nowhere near quick enough.

“We were presented with a different challenge, but credit to the players.

“Jonno came off the bench and Dale Stephens as well and looked so assured for his first game at St Mary’s, which is really good.

“We played with a bit of width which presented them problems.”