By Peter Howard

NATHAN Redmond revealed he was given an ultimatum when Claude Puel arrived at Saints – "it was either adapt and learn or sit on the sidelines".

The Saints manager told Redmond that his new playing system would not cater for wide players such as him, so the 22-year-old, under the guidance of the Frenchman, began the process of morphing into a striker.

Now, just four months after Puel replaced Ronald Koeman, the £10m summer signing from Norwich is one of Saints' best performers in a position he is still familiarising himself in.

But, even after scoring two goals in as many games, the tricky Birmingham-born attacker states that he has not yet fully rebuilt his game.

“I’m learning a new position,” he said. “I’m playing up front. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will I transferring into becoming a striker.

“I’m learning daily in training and learning during the games as well. The more I get in those areas the better I’ll get at finishing.”

The England Under-21 international, who has drawn comparisons with legendary winger-cum-striker Thierry Henry – although he is keen to downplay those, wasn't about to "shy away" from the challenge Puel set him.

“If I didn’t want to, I wouldn’t be playing,” he explains, when asked if he'd rather have continued to play as a winger. “He [Puel] made it clear he wasn’t going to play with wide players, but he also made it clear that he’d watched me before and seen me play, so he knew I had the potential to play there [up front].

“It was about trying it in pre-season and once it came to the first couple of games of the season he told me I was going to be playing there.

“It was either adapt and learn or sit on the sidelines, and I’m never going to shy away from a challenge.”

There had been questions asked over whether or not he truly has the instinctive finishing that a top striker requires.

But Redmond is not perturbed by any doubts, and has been working on his state of mind when presented with a goal-scoring chance.

He said: “It’s just about remaining cool and composed with pressure on me. I’m only going to get better at that.”

In his last couple of appearances Redmond has shown good composure, scoring two stunning goals, both of which bore the hallmarks of a real striker's finish.

The first was a well-taken half-volley against Burnley, which was followed up by an opportunists finish at Manchester City to make it three Premier League goals for the season so far.

“I’m thoroughly enjoying it,” he said. “I’m enjoying being at a club where we have a lot of the ball.

“The quality is fantastic since I’ve been at the club and I’m just enjoying my football at the moment.

“We’re in a good run and that helps.”

Redmond believes he is maturing with the help of his St Mary's team-mates.

“I’m getting older,” he said. “I’m 22 now, so I’ve played a few more seasons in the Premier League. I’m learning a lot more about the league.

“It all helps. There’s a fantastic set of players here. They’re top quality.”