Morgan Schneiderlin believes playing for France has improved him enormously as a player.

The midfielder has started the season in exceptional form and he puts some of that down to what he learned at the World Cup this summer, as well as his time on international duty this month.

“It improved me a lot,” he said.

“It’s an experience that nothing can buy, to play in a World Cup and to train for two months with such good players, international players, superstars if I can say for some.

“So it’s been just fantastic.

“The game I played against Ecuador (in the World Cup) I learned a lot again on myself and on how to manage the situation, to play in such a main event.

“Then I had the chance to play against Spain and Serbia, and international games make you a better player, no doubt about it.

“I have the feeling that I’m better all round, so I’m feeling as good as ever. It’s just up to me to keep working and to keep that focus.”

Schneiderlin is currently the fourth best performing player in the Premier League, according to statistics website Whoscored.com The only three who can better his 8.13 average rating all play for leaders Chelsea – Diego Costa (8.76), Eden Hazard (8.31) and Cesc Fàbregas (8.29).

On top of displaying all his normal qualities, Schneiderlin has also been a significant goal threat in the early stages of the season. His effort in the 4-0 win over Newcastle, which capped a stunning 41-pass move by Saints, was his third league strike of the season – already one more than he scored during all of last term.

“I’m just happy, because I worked a lot on those situations and that’s a situation a few months or a few years ago I would have lost my composure maybe,” he said.

“But (on Saturday) I kept my composure and I did very well, but that just shows that I’m maturing as a player.”

Schneiderlin already has form for turning perceived weaknesses in his game into strengths.

“My defensive skill wasn’t my strong point a few years ago,” he said.

“In every aspect of my game now I am not focusing on my qualities, I’m focusing on my things that I’m doing wrong.

“I know that my shooting wasn’t the best in the games.

“In training it was always good, but I didn’t know why.

“I just asked myself why I’m doing those things wrong and it’s just because I was maybe too nervous or I didn’t take my time, but now I take my time.”