RONALD Koeman is adamant that big money signing Jordy Clasie will adapt to life in the Premier League.

The Netherlands international is in line to make his third successive start for Saints at Sunderland this Saturday with Victor Wanyama out serving a one-game ban.

The 24-year-old, who cost Saints £8m in the summer, will likely partner either Oriol Romeu or James Ward-Prowse in midfield at the Stadium of Light, but has yet to complete a full game in red and white.

Clasie has been substituted in the last 20 minutes in his two Premier League starts.

“He’s not the physical, most strongest player and that’s the reason I change Jordy after 70 minutes because he needs to learn and to adapt to the Premier League and we give the boy that time,” Koeman explained.

“He showed his qualities and he will learn and adapt to the intensity of the Premier League.

“He has big qualities in his ball possession.”

Clasie moved to Southampton from Eredivisie side Feyenoord in the summer transfer window, with much fanfare surrounding the switch.

However, a double injury blow meant that Clasie didn’t make his top-flight debut until mid-October in the 2-2 draw with Leicester.

He has since started successive matches at Anfield and against the Cherries and has begun to show glimpses of the quality that enticed Saints to bring him in as Morgan Schneiderlin’s direct replacement.

“We know it’s difficult, very difficult, to replace players like Morgan Schneiderlin because he had more experience. Jordy is coming out of the Dutch competition,” Koeman says.

It is an indication of Koeman’s stance on Clasie, though, that he has opted to give the ex-Excelsior man a run of game time straight after injury, allowing a player he rates highly time to integrate and regain fitness rather than select players that are game-ready.

As reported, Clasie’s team-mates are also offering a helping hand as he looks to settle, with Graziano Pelle ready to provide guidance, with himself having experience of adapting to the Premier League after switching from the Dutch Eredivisie.