Adam Lallana reckons there is more to come from fellow Saints star Jay Rodriguez.

The pair were both in irresistible form against Fulham on Saturday and, like Rickie Lambert, Rodriguez capped his performance by making one goal and heading another.

Lallana said: “It’s a pleasure to play with both of them, I’ve played with Rickie for four or five years now and feel like I know his game inside out and when Jay Rod’s playing with confidence like that, there are not many better than him.

“He had a great first season and played without a care in the world against Fulham.

“He went on several runs, got his goal, went close with the bicycle kick... he works so hard so it’s great to see him play so freely.

“He’s been asked to play in numerous positions but goes out and gives 100 per cent regardless of where he’s playing.

“He won’t sulk, he won’t moan. It’s a credit to him that he can play in different positions and formations and just get on with it and give everything, no matter what. “He’s a top lad, getting the goal on Saturday was just what he deserved.”

A goal was all that was missing from Lallana’s performance against Fulham.

“We were expected to win and, if anything, we’ve struggled when that’s been the case this season, at home to West Ham and Sunderland,” he said. “So it was important we went into the game with the right attitude and I thought we did that.

“To go in 2-0 up gave us massive confidence and it could have been more in the second half. It was a great victory. “I would have liked to get on the score sheet, it wasn’t to be, but the manner of the team performance was brilliant. “We all imposed ourselves, we pressed, we got the ball back in the final third and it’s another clean sheet.”

Saints will be buoyant when they take on a Stoke City side without a win in six Premier League games at the Britannia Stadium this Saturday. “We’ll look to impose ourselves on the game and not get too carried away, we’ll go into it professionally and hopefully get three points,” said Lallana. “We’ve got a great bunch of lads that just want to keep their feet on the ground and work hard every week.”