SAINTS' record signing Sofiane Boufal insists his best is yet to come after a frustrating first season St Mary's.

The Moroccan, who was signed for £16m from Lille last summer, has struggled for form during his debut campaign.

Much of that has been to do with injuries but, with a clean bill of health, the 23-year-old attacking midfielder is targeting big things next term.

"I am enjoying it here but I’ve been a little bit frustrated about my season because I haven’t done what I wanted to do," he said.

"I’ve had a lot of injuries and I’ve arrived here injured and I didn't do pre-season.

"I knew the season would be difficult before I signed here, but I’m enjoying it.

"This is one season of adaptation and I need to learn quickly to help myself in the Premier League, so I can do a good season next year."

Boufal has made 13 starts in all competitions this term. He's played 26 games in total, scoring two goals.

The tricky playmaker arrived at St Mary's with a knee injury he'd picked up with Lille and, as a result, didn't make his debut until two months into the season.

He then picked up another injury while on African Cup of Nations duty with Morocco and again had to work his way back to fitness.

"It was difficult because you don’t have the preparation time before the season and this one is very important," he said, referring to his injury when he first arrived.

"But it’s all good now and I hope next year is better."

For the former Angers man, who was born in Paris to Moroccan parents, this is his first experience of life and football abroad.

"In the Premier League it’s more crazy and end-to-end," he said, "in France it’s more tactical.

"It's a big difference; here is quicker and more box-to-box and France it’s more tactical with more defenders who stay at the back.”

"I’m enjoying Southampton and the Premier League is the best championship in the world and I am happy here in England," he added.

Boufal loves to run at defences and can often be seen trying to weave past several opponents.

It is something that can be exhilarating, but also infuriating to watch, with his ambitious runs not always coming off this campaign.

"I play now like I played four or five years ago and it’s natural," he said, "all my life I play like this.

"But now i need to progress about my cardio - about my physique.

"I need to improve on this because in the Premier League you need this."

Often a big price tag like the one Saints paid to Lille for Boufal's services can become a millstone around the neck of a player.

But Boufal hasn't dwelled on his price tag.

"Not really, I don’t think about this," he said. "It’s not my job. My job is to play football and not think about the money the club paid for me.

"I don’t have pressure. I just enjoy."