Graziano Pelle’s teammates have hailed the striker as a stylish addition – literally – to the Saints side.

The Italian forward, who joined from Feyenoord this summer, has adapted quickly to his new surroundings and enjoyed a superb start to the season, scoring three Premier League goals already.

Two of those came in Saturday’s 4-0 demolition of Newcastle, with Pelle producing a fine all-round performance.

It was one that certainly caught the eye of his colleagues, as well as his manager, Ronald Koeman.

Team captain Jose Fonte said: “Every day that he spends with us and he trains he’s getting better, more confident.

“Obviously, the goals help, and he’s showing he was a good addition.”

Midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin believes Pelle has already proven to be a good replacement for Rickie Lambert.

“Graziano is doing very well,” he said.

“He’s a very strong lad, he’s someone who gives us like what Rickie gave us last year.

“He’s a strong pivot, we can play on him when a team presses us and he does it very well, and on top of that he’s a technical player, he has good movement.”

Jack Cork also sees similarities between Pelle and Lambert, although he believes the 29-year-old should be viewed as his own player.

“You can see the same kind of strengths they’ve got,” he said. “They’re both good at holding it up, both have good feet and are decent in front of goal, have a good record in front of goal.

“You can see the similarities and why people are comparing him to Rickie, but obviously Rickie did well here and it is quite a big thing to try and live up to.

“He would prefer just to be doing his own thing and try to make his own name.”

Cork added: “He is a great lad and I am really happy he is scoring goals because he has worked hard in training and worked hard since he has been here. Hopefully it will pay off for him.”

Pelle has perhaps been helped by his pre-existing relationship with Koeman, who he worked with during the previous two seasons at Feyenoord.

“Always, strikers need goals,” said the Saints manager.“If they score goals, they get more confidence, and maybe in the beginning it was difficult for him because the level in Holland is different.“He was always too strong in Holland, even on 80 per cent, and he knows he has to give always 100 per cent for us and to score.

“How he played (against Newcastle) was great.”

While his performances in recent weeks have caught the eye, there is something else that Pelle’s teammates have noticed about him – his rather impressive sense of style.

“He looks like he should be in a D&G catalogue, doesn’t he?” said Cork, laughing, who has also enjoyed how much attention Pelle pays to his hair.

“We have double sessions on Tuesdays usually and we don’t finish until about seven and he is putting all gel on it and stuff like that.

“I am just thinking ‘you’re just going home, you’re going to bed – why are you gelling all that?’ “He has always looked smart, always a nice shirt on. He has got the Italian style.

“It is interesting when he comes in to see what he is wearing. He has got a lot of style.”