James Ward-Prowse and Jay Rodriguez handed Claude Puel a win in his first game in charge of Saints.

The stars netted in either half as Saints beat DC United under-23s 2-0 in a low key friendly on their American tour.

Puel took the chance to look at all 24 of the players that travelled to Baltimore, with debuts for new signings Nathan Redmond and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

It was Ward-Prowse who struck the first goal on 15 minutes, firing an unstoppable shot into the top corner after his initial effort following a cut back corner had been blocked.

Rodriguez added the second in the dying moments, converting a penalty after Sam McQueen had been brought down.

Interestingly, Puel, who changed the entire side at half time, was using a different formation to the one which Saints have been so used to during the Ronald Koeman and Mauricio Pochettino eras.

Puel played very much a three man central midfield, with a deep lying midfielder shielding the back four – in this match Oriol Romeu, Hojbjerg and Harrison Reed shared the duties – with two further players in front of them.

That meant a central striker through the middle and then two players off of them, with the theory being width would be provided by attacking full backs.

Whether Puel opts to stick with it when he has his whole squad together remains to be seen, but it was an interesting glimpse into what might be under the new French boss.

Saints were comfortable winners against DC United and could have won by a far more decisive scoreline, though Puel is unlikely to be troubled by that with the game very much a fitness exercise.

Saints started the game quickly and worked the DC United keeper several times.

On six minutes, Dusan Tadic squared to Redmond and his shot from the edge of the box was straight down the keeper’s throat.

Tadic had a go himself three minutes later with a well struck half volley on the turn that was pushed wide.

Ward-Prowse gave Saints the lead on 15 minutes before Tadic had another effort well saved.

Charlie Austin got in on 33 minutes after a dreadful back pass but, like Redmond again later in the half, the keeper was equal to it.

Saints fielded a much younger side in the second period, which was a generally quiet affair.

Keeper Harry Lewis made one decent save before Saints rounded off the win late on.

The referee, who had generously decided to award a free kick on the edge of the area rather than what looked a penalty against Jordan Turnbull early in the game, made another debateable call in pointing to the spot when McQueen went down in the area.

Rodriguez stepped up and slammed the penalty down the middle.

The only downside for Puel was an injury to Reed in the closing stages which saw him limp off.

Saints first half: Gazzaniga, Martina, Turnbull, van Dijk, Targett, Romeu, Clasie, Ward-Prowse, Tadic, Redmond, Austin.

Saints second half: Lewis, Valery, Stephens, Jones, McQueen, Hojbjerg (Sims 68), Hesketh, Reed, Rodriguez, Isgrove (Gallagher 74), Olomola.