Victor Wanyama was given the honour of captaining Saints in midweek as recognition that he is “growing as a person in the team.”

Wanyama led the Saints side out for the Capital One Cup fourth round tie against Aston Villa just 59 days after he was dropped from the squad to face Norwich after being deemed not mentally or physically fit enough to play by Ronald Koeman as he pushed for a transfer to Tottenham.

Saints refused to let Wanyama move to White Hart Lane but since then the powerhouse midfielder has knuckled down and been on consistent form for the side.

Koeman felt it was right to reward him for that effort in the victory over Villa.

He said: “We know have some players who can be captain of this team about experience, about personalities, and of course always to be a captain is for each player a special feeling.

“Kelvin (Davis) was not starting, Jose (Fonte) was not starting, and in my opinion we had two possibilities to be captain that day - Victor and Prowsey.

“It’s good for Victor, for his personality, to be the captain.

“He is also growing as a person in the team, in the squad, and he knows he is an important player.”

It is at least promising for Saints and their desire to hold onto Wanyama that he is showing leadership qualities.

Koeman was asked whether Wanyama is now settled at Saints and replied: “At the moment yes. You never know.

“It’s good, he’s happy at the moment.

“He had his problems in the pre-season and we spoke about it and he put it back and he is what he did before for the club, working hard for the team.”

The Villa win also marked a return to the Saints side for Gaston Ramirez.

The Uruguayan playmaker made his first start for the club in 18 months and impressed Koeman.

“I mentioned already and answered that question that at the moment he is physically strong, he has a period doing all the training sessions,” explained the Saints manager.

“One of his problems was always a lot of injuries which dropped himself back with opportunities to play.

“He’s doing well, working hard and it’s good to have that competition with the front players.

“He is a technical, a creative, football player and every team needs that kind of players.”