Ronald Koeman is hoping he can inspire another spectacular career revival ahead of handing the man once dubbed the ‘Cruyff of the Balkans’ his first Premier League start.

Filip Djuricic, who arrived at St Mary’s on the final day of the winter transfer window on loan from Benfica, is aiming to find his way again after a year in the footballing wilderness.

Koeman has proven to be a master of breathing fresh life into stuttering careers, using his vast knowledge of European football to pick up bargains who need a need challenge.

Djuricic was handed his first Premier League appearance against West Ham last Wednesday as a late sub.

The following evening he was back at St Mary’s, providing a second minute assist and a goal as an over-age player as Saints reached the Premier League under-21 Cup semi final by beating Watford 3-2.

Now Koeman must wrestle with the idea of throwing him in from the start in next Sunday’s mouth-watering home game with Liverpool.

At 23 Djuricic is still not even in the prime of his career, but after a bright start that saw him described as ‘The Balkan Cruyff with a hint of Kaka, he struggled this to get a game at mid-table Bundesliga side Mainz.

He was only there in the first place because his big money move to Benfica didn’t work out and so he was farmed out on loan for the season.

Koeman, though, has form in resurrecting careers.

And with Djuricic having failed to complete 90 minutes in a senior game for almost exactly 12 months, the Serbian falls into that category.

His decision to bring in Eljero Elia was a perfect example.

Koeman admitted to wondering what Elia was doing, having been such a superb young talent.

He, too, was drifting until Koeman came calling and placed his faith and belief in him.

It has worked superbly as Elia looks every inch a Premier League star for Saints, with the player having said he would “walk through fire” for Koeman as a result of the opportunity he has handed him.

Koeman has also revived Ryan Bertrand’s career. Previously a perennial loanee at Chelsea, where he struggled to gain regular first team appearance, he is now a Premier League regular.

Bertrand last month chose to make his loan move permanent, and his form this term has led to speculation that he could return to the England senior squad.

The St Mary’s boss tried something similar as Saints unsuccessfully pursued Tonny Vilhena on the final day of the January window, the midfielder now a spare part at Feyenoord.

He did, though, land Djuricic, and is now looking to help return him to the form that saw him once viewed as a player with the potential to be as good as Johan Cryuff.

Koeman played under the Dutch legend at Barcelona in the early 1990s as part of what was known as ‘Cryuff’s Dream Team’ that won the club’s first European Cup.

After starting his career in his native Serbia, Djuricic made a successful switch to Dutch side Heerenveen.

His form there, which brought 26 goals in 111 appearances, not only saw him begin his international career but also secure a €6m switch to Benfica.

Djuricic was initially a regular but soon fell out of favour and last summer was loaned out to Mainz.

There he again struggled for a regular starting spot, and has failed to play a full 90 minutes of club football since a Europa League game for Benfica on February 20 2014.