FLYING Saints forward Jonathan Forte believes the time has come for him to fully realise his potential.

The 25-year-old speedster has endured a stop-start Saints career, ever since joining the club last January.

But he showed a flash of what he is capable of in Saturday’s 2-2 friendly draw at Yeovil, scoring a breathtaking solo goal.

Forte took control of the ball some 40 yards out, blew past a couple of defenders and fired an unstoppable left-footed drive into the far corner to make it 2-1 midway through the second half.

After the game, Saints boss Nigel Adkins insisted the player is blessed with tremendous physical ability, but just needs to believe in himself more.

And that is an assessment the bashful Forte, who also worked under Adkins for three seasons at Scunthorpe, agrees with.

“He’s been saying that to me for a few years now,” he said.

“So it’s up to me to do my best and realise my potential.

“I knew it was going to be a little bit stop-start when I came here.

“You can’t just jump into a team that’s got great players.

“But hopefully I’ll get my chance and prove what I can do.”

Forte, who can play up front or on the wing, has made 10 first-team appearances for Saints, but just two of those have been starts.

His crowning moment was undoubtedly scoring twice as Adkins’ men came from 2-0 down against MK Dons at St Mary’s last April to win 3-2 – a result that helped propel the side to promotion from League One.

Forte, who possesses searing pace, says it is that sort of “extra special” form he must show at Saints if he is to force his way into the team on a regular basis.

His task is made harder by the quality of players the club possesses in his positions, with the likes of Rickie Lambert, David Connolly and Lee Barnard in attack, as well as Alex Chamberlain, Adam Lallana and now Steve De Ridder out wide.

But softly-spoken Forte insists he prefers it that way, as it means he has to push himself to be better.

“Obviously, whenever you’re put on the field of play you’re always expected to do something,” he said.

“At any club it’s the same thing.

“But Southampton is a massive club, so you’ve got to be extra special to stay in the team.

“There are unbelievable players here, so you’ve got to be 100 per cent every time you go out on the field of play.

“I prefer it being like that, though, because everyone ups their game.

“And that’s a lot better for the team and the whole club.”