CLAUDE Puel has urged for patience over £16m record signing Sofiane Boufal – and revealed the Moroccan, if nurtured properly, has the potential to be Saints' version of Eden Hazard or Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

The 23-year-old made his first Premier League start since early February against Chelsea on Tuesday night, and Puel was impressed with what he saw, especially in the first half of the 4-2 defeat.

The Saints boss, who wants Boufal to  look for the simple option during games more often, has focussed time on helping Boufal develop in his first season at St Mary's since a move from Lille last summer.

"I’ve spoken a lot with Sofiane," he said. "He’s a particular player, for me like [Paris Saint Germain player] Hatem Ben Arfa. He’s like for me a talented player, like Messi or Eden Hazard.

"They can make the difference with good penetration with an ability to dribble and make the difference.

"He’s a fantastic player and after they have to find a good balance between the dribble and to play simple.

"That is hard to find that balance and it’s important to keep his penetration and encourage him. For this he needs confidence and after he will find a good balance between playing simple and to keep the ball.

"He has this talent to dribble in short spaces and to find a good assist and a good shot. It’s fantastic for the team.

"But at the moment his information is in the academy [stages]."

Puel brought through Chelsea star Hazard, who scored the first goal at Stamford Bridge during the Blues defeat, at Lille, handing him his debut in 2007.

The 55-year-old can see the same glimmers of talent in Boufal, who has struggled with injuries and form this term.

"I think Boufal can have this same potential it’s not a problem," he said.

"Eden found the good balance early in his career. He had a good maturity. At 16 it was the same with his capacity and ability to keep consistency and good focus.

"He can stop his run at the opponents' box with a short space and he can find a good solution because he’s calm with the ball and he’s a particular player, like Messi, he can make the difference.

"This is a good player and I think Sofiane can progress and find this balance.

"It’s important to be patient with Sofiane and to encourage him to dribble but sometimes it’s important to play simple."

Puel admitted he's found it hard to give the Morocco international significant game time, with Nathan Redmond, Dusan Tadic and James Ward-Prowse becoming settled first choices in the attacking midfield areas.

England international Redmond was dropped on Tuesday to allow Boufal  some minutes.

"We have a strong squad and it’s difficult sometimes to give game time to all the players - for Sofiane it was the same," he said.

"Sofiane has been injured for long periods and it was difficult for him to find a good consistency.

"For example I think before his last injury in December he was doing good work with consistency, but it was hard after his injuries in January and February for him to come back physically fit with good consistency in his play.

"It is important he continues his progress in training. He’s done some good work in recent weeks and it’s important to continue that same spirit and attitude.

"If he find a good balance it’s a good player."

Puel added: "It was interesting to see him start, to see if he can make progress and I think it was interesting to see him against Chelsea.

"It was a good first half... it was a little more difficult after half time because of tiredness because he doesn’t play many games.

"But I’m satisfied about his performance because he can play simple but also keep his good penetration and do the the difference.

"He’s a talented player and he has to find a good balance between his fantastic penetration and also giving an assist for his team-mate.

"It’s the beginning of his career and he’s a talented player but we know he can give a very good performance.

"We will see this in the future."