NATHAN Redmond has laughed off comparisons with Thierry Henry - but is loving his new role as a Saints striker.

The 22 year-old was likened to the France and Arsenal legend by Claude Puel in the build up to his Saints debut against Watford.

His spectacular volleyed equaliser in the 1-1 draw at St Mary's was a strike Henry, who was coached by Puel at Monaco in the 1990s, would have been proud of.

But Redmond, who signed for £10m from Norwich six weeks ago, insists: "I saw that but can't take it too serious! Thierry Henry is Thierry Henry, there will never be another Thierry Henry like there won't be another Jermain Defoe or Wayne Rooney. They're in a class of their own, I'm just doing what I can.

"When the gaffer proposed about maybe playing up front I said 'yeah I can give it a go'.

"Since I started playing there in pre-season he's obviously liked what he's seen and I've felt pretty comfortable playing there.

"But I'm not saying I'm not a winger anymore. I'm just learning to play another position and hopefully it will improve my game.

"When I was coming through at Birmingham, Chris Hughton said that if I can play in three or four positions I'd give the manager more options to pick me, whether up front or left and right.

"Then he took me to Norwich and played me on the left and at No 10 every now and then. He encouraged me to adapt to other positions."

Puel has already proved to be another good sounding board.

"He's given me different options as to runs I should make when we've got the ball and how to balance off Dusan [Tadic] and Longy (Shane Long)," continued Redmond. 

"To not really be specific to a set position but to keep moving. That's what makes it hard for teams to pick me up and pick other players up.

"If you've got a team full of fluency and movement it's going to be hard for any team. When we have the ball I'm free to do what I want...which is kind of what managers have figured out with me before, but this time in a new role."

Redmond also credits Puel for his role in his 58th-minute equaliser, a chance that followed Heurelho Gomes's weak punch clear following a left-flank corner.

"I remember doing the set piece on the training ground," he said. "I'm not used to being in and around the box, I'm used to being on the edge of it so the gaffer said 'keep moving, it might fall to you'.

"He said he's not expecting me to win headers but to pick up bits so that's what I kept doing. I kept moving in the box and followed one of them.

"I just saw the keeper coming out and no-one around me. I remember being on the edge of the box, where there was a player next to Dusan.

"I wasn't sure if he was coming so looked twice and as I looked the second time it was falling. It was one of those you don't think about too much, you just hit it. It was a clean connection and would have been a dream start if it was the winning goal."

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