Claude Puel justified his decision to leave Charlie Austin out of the starting line-up against Swansea after the striker climbed off the bench to net the winner.
Austin scored twice to help Saints to a 3-0 win over Sparta Prague on Thursday night, but was taken out of the side to face Swansea three days later in the Premier League.
Puel denied it was due to worries over Austin’s fitness record, and pointed to the fact that the £4m man came on to bag the three points as proof the decision had worked.
He said: “He start on the game (as a sub) because he cannot start the first team at the beginning also.
“He played today and scored a goal but it’s not possible for a player to play all this game.
“It’s important when he start he enters the game with a good spirit and good attitude.
“Strikers can score at the beginning and also if they come from the bench.
“With all the players it’s important to keep good attention, to be careful for good play.
“It’s important to keep the play for every player.
“For example, Jay Rodriguez cannot play because he has an injury.
“It’s important to keep all the players with a good attitude.
“I think it was a good decision and for all the players, they keep energy to score and to play well.”
Having endured a difficult first half season at Saints after joining in January, Austin is now starting to hit the form that fans expected from him.
The question for Puel now is how often he can get him in the side.
“I am happy for Charlie and for us also. It’s important for the squad,” reflected the Saints boss.
“I think that for Charlie it’s a good moment, good performance, good attitude and keep a good concentration on the game.
“All the players have a good attitude all the time.
“We cannot win these two games without a good spirit for all the players.
“I think now my players understand the philosophy and the possibilities to change because we can keep good results, good solutions, good football and to win all the game, all the competitions, it’s very important for the squad to play many games.
“It’s hard but a very good challenge for all the squad.
“We have different players who can do good work.”
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