Mauricio Pellegrino has full confidence that record signing Guido Carrillo will hit full capacity soon.

The £19.2m January arrival from Monaco has instantly found himself thrust into the Saints side and leading the line as they battle for Premier League survival.

It’s a big ask for the 26-year-old Argentinian as he tries to break down the language barrier as well as getting used to life in English football.

Though he is still waiting for a first Saints goal, Carrillo has shown improving performances and Pellegrino is encouraged by what he has seen.

“He’s adapting well, working well and now in some movements he has to improve the connections with some teammates,” said the Saints boss.

“He’s fighting, working with energy.

“It’s not too easy as most games have been away and Liverpool at home but little by little he will improve like the team.

“Every player needs context for good performance individually and he will show his capacity.”

Carrillo’s more physical style has added an extra dimension to Saints and has started to alter their style of play.

They are now able to go more direct to Carrillo and feed off of him, though Pellegrino insists that Saints as a whole are still adapting.

“I think he will give and is giving us something we didn’t have,” reckoned Pellegrino. “Not like Charlie (Austin) but similar profile.

“Maybe Charlie is quicker - in the box different but outside the box he’s a different option and we have to work out what to do when Guido goes deep and when he’s in the box to give him more time.”

After reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals with a win at West Brom last weekend, it’s back to fighting relegation for Saints this afternoon as they travel to Burnley.

“I think it was important for us to move forward but every single game you have to be fully focussed and really well prepared to keep going in a positive way,” reflected Pellegrino.

“Burnley obviously in some aspects are similar but in another pattern they are really strong in a different way.

“It is a difficult team at home, every single game is really tight when you play a team really well organised, a competitive team, good rhythm.

“If we use our last home game as experience we dominate, manage the ball but couldn’t break their defensive system.

“We have to be 100 per cent on the pitch to try to gain something positive from this game.”