Eljero Elia thanked everyone at Saints for showing so much faith in him after he fired the team to a 2-1 win against Newcastle.

The on-loan Werder Bremen star produced a brilliant performance at St James’ Park, scoring in each half to earn Ronald Koeman’s side another huge victory.

Elia, who was making only his second appearance for the club, said: “It means everything to me, especially to the club Southampton, the trainer, the chairman, everybody in the club – the fans.

“Everybody has given me an honest chance to show what I can [do], and the class I feel directly. Today I paid back with two goals.”

Elia, who made his debut in last week’s 1-0 win at Manchester United, said he had been well prepared for today’s encounter after receiving some words of wisdom from captain Jose Fonte.

“I learn,” he said. “Jose talks a lot with me. He say ‘fight, fight, fight, fight. You can play football, but you have to fight’.

“The things what Jose said to me, it was like something was in my head, like ‘fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, and then your chance will come.’ “The first goal was like instinct and the second goal also.

“I am so happy that everybody in the club, the players, the fans, the trainer – everybody – give me trust, and I pay it back today.”

After giving Saints the lead with a shot across Tim Krul in the first half, Elia netted the decisive goal after the break, bursting through to convert from Shane Long’s flick-on.

“Shane won the duel and I go directly on speed,” said the 27-year-old.

“The trainer says always to me ‘When you are at speed, don’t stop – keep running.’ “I did it and I scored two times.”

The win at Newcastle capped a sensational week for Saints, following the famous success at United and the FA Cup replay win away to Ipswich.

Elia reflected on what those results said about the team, especially given the absence of a number of key players through injury.

“We lost two of our, I think, best players of the Premier League – Victor and Morgan,” he said.

“I know them for one week, or two weeks, and I see how they play football and they are so amazing. Amazing players.

“I think it’s very hard to keep them at Southampton, but the players who come in, who play in those positions, did it very well today and I think when they come back we are much stronger, and we have to continue, and the team spirit is very good.

“Everybody has to believe in success.”