Claude Puel is hoping that Nathan Redmond could be Saints’ answer to Thierry Henry after admitting there are many similarities between the two players.

Puel worked with Henry at Monaco, and was credited with helping the French striker hone his trademark finishing technique.

After Henry moved to Arsenal, Arsene Wenger moved him from a winger to a striker and he never looked back.

Redmond was signed by Saints this summer as a winger, but Puel has seen similar qualities in him and is set to start him as a striker in the season opener against Watford at St Mary’s tomorrow, drawing obvious comparisons.

“It’s two different players of course, but yes I see similarities between the two with this ability to shoot with the right foot and to curl the ball,” said Puel.

“He has this particularity, and he feels too the play and he can make a combination with his partner and can dribble also and make the difference for me.

“It’s a very good player and a very good surprise to find this player at this level.”

Puel was asked what it was about Redmond that has made him change his position and reasoned: “I can see a player with all these qualities, and all these qualities in front of the goal also, so it’s for me a pity to leave him out wide.

“It’s important I think to put this player on the better position for him and we will see in the future in the games he can play on this position with good talent.”

Puel is hoping to speak with Henry soon with the pair still friends and both now living and working in England.

There is the chance Henry may even be able to offer some advice to Redmond on how best to make the switch from the wide areas to playing through the middle.

“Thierry is a man with a big passion for the football,” said Puel. “He likes football, he likes to see many games, young players, old players. He likes it all in football. He can give of course good possibilities.

“It is two men with the same possibilities, quick, a good ability in the technical and the run also. It’s the similarity between these two players.”

There will be an onus on Redmond to deliver goals when he is playing as a striker, with last season’s top scorers Graziano Pelle and Sadio Mane having both departed this summer.

“We work all this pre-season with different possibilities, and Redmond is a very very good player,” insisted Puel.

“He played at Norwich on the right. I think it’s a very good striker because he can shoot, he can create, he make differences like a striker.

“It’s good impress for me because he has real potential and we have good players with Tadic, Austin, Long, Rodriguez. It’s a good collective and more important is to develop and improve in our quality and to give a good answer.”