CLAUDE Puel has revealed that he is a big admirer of Dusan Tadic and believes that the Serbian is a good fit in the number 10 role just behind the Saints strikers at the head of the midfield diamond.

Tadic has proved, mainly from the left side, to be one of Saints’ most fearsome attacking – albeit inconsistent – threats in his two seasons at St Mary’s.

The 27-year-old, who is in talks over a contract extension at Saints, was at his most prolific in that position last term, with the majority of his 12 assists and seven goals happening when he was stationed on the left side of an attacking three.

However, Puel is deducing that it is possible to get similar results from the former FC Twente man, who was signed for more than £10m in 2014, in a central role just behind two strikers.

“I think Tadic is interesting in his position because he can turn and go quickly,” Puel said of the Serbia international, who has one assist from three games in that position during pre-season.

“He can give good passes for the striker. I think it’s a good position for him. He wants to make progress all the time in the games step by step.

“I’m sure that Dusan is going to make a very good season.”

Tadic’s playmaker role has also seen him take several free kicks during recent friendlies, a responsibility he wasn’t often charged with under Ronald Koeman.

He almost scored in the 1-1 draw against Espanyol with a delightfully curled free kick that saw goalkeeper Pau Lopez pull-off a brilliant save.

The attacking midfielder has also been given some license to roaming in forward areas and, if he can prove that he is capable of adapting to that role, he may well be an integral part of Puel's plans.

The St Mary's chief has delivered further news on his blue prints for next season, revealing that he intends to send his team out to “control” every game.

When asked about his trademark style, he said: “It’s important to play, to keep control of the game. It’s important to have the play against all the teams at home and away.

“For the future it’s important to keep the ball and to control the game. It’s a little bit new for the players but they make progress all the time in the training sessions and the games.

“We will see in the first game against Watford.”