RONALD Koeman has hailed the attacking crown jewels that has fired Saints to within four points of a Champions League position – but reckons they still have another level to reach.

The terrific trio of Graziano Pelle, Sadio Mane and Dusan Tadic have dismantled opposition this season, helping Saints go seven games without defeat in all competitions.

And their impact hasn’t gone unnoticed by Koeman as Saints prepare to head to second-to-bottom Sunderland, who leaked six goals against Everton at the weekend.

Pelle, Tadic and Mane have all either equalled or surpassed their scoring and assists record from the same point last term.

Koeman was delighted with his attacking gems after defeating AFC Bournemouth 2-0.

But he was aware their impact waned in the second-half.

“In the first half yes [they are among the best attacking trios], second half maybe not but it’s a whole team performance,” he said.

“But they are great players, creative, scoring, great movement and clever boys.

“Still they can do it better because second half was not that level but that’s normal.”

The statistics speak for themselves.

Pelle has scored nine goals in 16 appearances in all competitions this term, which is an identical record to the same point last season.

The big Italian’s form tailed off in 2014/15, netting seven goals in the 29 games after a sensational start – something he’s admitted he’ll look to avoid this campaign.

One reason for the 30-year-old’s form has been the livewire Mane – with whom Pelle holds the joint-second most prolific assist to goalscorer relationship in the Premier League.

Mane, who is has already got more assists (4) than the whole of 2014/15 (3), has provided three league goals for Pelle and also scored six goals in 15 games in all competitions himself – doubling his tally at this point last term.

That prolific form owes a lot to Tadic too, with the Serbian providing four goals in all competitions and three assists in the top-flight but also delivering 3.1 key passes – which is among the top five in the Premier League.

Koeman knows that they must keep getting the ball to them.

“It’s very important but like Graziano and also for Sadio, also for Dusan, the difference between the first and second half was we lost more balls and we had not that help for them,” he said after the Cherries win.

“Still they can learn from the second halves, but overall Graziano we know is a very good striker, scoring goals, strong.

“I said before, it’s my opinion one of the best in the Premier League.”