CLAUDE Puel knows that Saints can’t always rely on Charlie Austin for goals and has urged others to be more "efficient" when presented with a chance to score.

Puel labelled Austin's "clinical" finishing as vital for the team.

Ahead of Liverpool’s visit tomorrow, the striker has scored five of Saints’ 12 Premier League goals this season and is the club’s primary goal threat.

Nathan Redmond, has hit his fair share of strikes, netting three, while Dusan Tadic, Jay Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse have scored one apiece in the top flight.

Puel noted that Saints are statistically the third-best in the Premier League at creating chances, but last in terms of converting those openings.

“Charlie is a clinical player,” said Puel. “He’s efficient in front of goal, and it’s important for the squad. He’s also scored many penalties. Always it’s important to keep him at a good physical level.

“But I hope other players can score also. It’s important other players have the possibility to score –offensive midfielders, defenders from free-kicks.

“We have a statistic – we are in the third position of the number of chances every game, and the last with efficiency.

“It’s a good way to work for my players and to progress on this statistic. They’ve fought very well, and now it’s important to be efficient.”

The 55-year-old St Mary’s chief reckons that Austin has a good chance of being selected for England if he keeps scoring.

Puel also reaffirmed his belief that Oriol Romeu should be considered for a Spain call up, while also tipping Sam McQueen for a place in the England Under-21s squad.

“It’s important to give Charlie and all the strikers chances to score,” he said. “If we have good results, of course all of my players can be selected for the international team.

“Of course, he has the level to be selected [for England]. Like Romeu, for example. Or McQueen, with the Under-21s.

“All of my players have the qualities to participate internationally, to become international players.”

Liverpool visit St Mary’s tomorrow and will potentially have four former Saints men in their ranks.

Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and Dejan Lovren have all made the switch to Merseyside from the south coast and were joined by Sadio Mane last summer.

Rickie Lambert also made the move, but he has since moved to West Bromwich Albion and then to Cardiff.

After Mane departed for around £34m last June, the amount the Reds have spent on Saints players totalled an eye-watering £91m.

Puel knows that the kind of spending that Liverpool embark on in the transfer window is not a possibility for Saints.

“Southampton’s a different team to a club like Liverpool,” said Puel. “They can buy different players with many financial possibilities – it’s not the same for us. It’s important to develop our own players.

“When he’s (Mane) performed and gone to another team, it’s a good thing for Southampton, because we can take money, buy other young players, and develop these.

“Sometimes it’s a disappointment, when a player goes to another club, but it’s the philosophy of the club and it’s important to respect this.

“Our work, it’s always important to have a good result, but also to make progress with all these young players.”