As he watched the ball hit the back of the net, Eljero Elia knew there was one person who he simply had to share the moment with.

The winger had just put Saints 1-0 up away to Newcastle when he began tearing off up the touchline at St James’ Park.

His destination was the visitors’ technical area and, specifically, the man standing in it – Ronald Koeman.

Elia pointed at the Saints boss all the way, before embracing him with a huge hug on his arrival, and departing with a big slap on his manager’s back.

The 27-year-old has shown enormous gratitude towards Koeman and Saints since they plucked him from a period of struggle at Werder Bremen by taking him on loan this month, with a view to a permanent move in the summer.

He went a long way to repaying their faith on Saturday, producing a sensational solo performance and scoring both goals in the 2-1 win against the Magpies.

Explaining why he wanted to celebrate his first one with Koeman, Elia said: “Because he was the one who give me the chance to play for Southampton.

“Then he had to speak with people from the club, and the first thing what he say: ‘All the media, I don’t care what’s happened in the past with Eljero, I only watch to the future, and I don’t believe it. I have to see it and I want to see it with my own eyes,’ and maybe it is a risk, but [on Saturday] I pay him back with two goals.

“Now I have to keep continuing, to have more success with Southampton.”

Elia, who is desperate to prove he is not the troublemaker that he has sometimes been publicly portrayed as, added: “Every game I see like a final for me.

“I want to give everything – everything.

“Every game is like it’s my whole life. I don’t do it only for myself, but also for my family, to make my mother and father proud.

“It is not nice what my father and mother see in the past, stories about me that my attitude is not good and everything, and I’m so happy Southampton give me the trust.

“I’m so happy that they give me a chance to play in the Premier League, and I only want to pay them back.”

Elia’s first two games for the club have come in huge away wins – with his debut arriving in the 1-0 victory at Manchester United, which preceded the trip to Newcastle.

Now he is looking forward to possibly making his St Mary’s bow in next Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round clash with Crystal Palace.

“I cannot wait to play at home,” he said.

“I see Arsenal and Chelsea and Everton, three games, and I cannot wait to play at home on my own ground, for the supporters, to give everything.”

If he continues to give anything like what he did at Newcastle, then Elia will prove to be some signing for Saints.