CLAUDE Puel is refusing to put record signing Sofiane Boufal under too much pressure after a mixed first season at Saints.

The Moroccan international, who signed for £16m from Lille last summer, has struggled with fitness issues in his debut season and, like many others in their opening campaign in the Premier League, consistency.

The 23-year-old has shown glimmers of his ability with stunning goals against Middlesbrough and Sunderland, but has started just one game in 2017 so far.

Puel plans to talk directly with Boufal and has some words of advice as the fleet-footed attacker tries to adapt to life in the top-flight.

“All of this is new for Sofiane – the atmosphere, the stadium, the Premier League, the level and the consistency also,” Puel explained.

“He needs to participate more when we lose the ball, but it’s important to keep his quality, his penetration.

“He’s a talented player and on his strong points he can make the difference. It’s important to respect that.

“It’s important to find a good balance for him and also to play simpler in moments.

“It’s normal for a first season [to find it difficult] and I don’t want to put him under a lot of pressure because he’s one for the future.”

After having to wait until October for his debut, due to a knee injury he’d picked up with Lille, Boufal looked to be settling in to life in England during a run of five successive league starts in December.

But, after pulling out of African Cup of Nations (AFCON) duty with Morocco following an inflammation to his previous knee issue, he spent a period building back up to fitness.

He was then unable to play for Saints because of restrictions due to Morocco’s involvement at the AFCON.

The midfielder returned at Swansea on January 31, impressing in a second-half cameo. He started the following match against West Ham at home, but hobbled out of the 3-1 defeat.

Following that, Boufal was kept out the team with Puel changing the formation to 4-2-3-1 and Saints discovering good form in his absence.

There were hopes he’d have a chance to find some rhythm while on international duty recently, but started neither of his country’s matches – although he did come on in the 52nd minute during a 2-0 win over Burkina Faso in Marrakesh.

As a result of all of these factors, Puel admitted: “For the moment he lacks some confidence in the play and I need to discuss with him to find a good solution.”