Mark Hughes wants Charlie Austin to be loud and proud for the foreseeable future.

Austin came off the bench to score his first goal of the season and only his second of 2018 to give Saints a 1-0 midweek win at Brighton in the Carabao Cup.

The goal certainly livened up Austin, who was in boisterous mood after netting, and Hughes wants to hear a lot more from him this season.

Hughes said: “He was straight on the radio telling everybody about the goal and that’s Charlie.

“We want him to show his personality and be happy with his game and his life. When Charlie’s loud he’s in a good place.

“He will be more comfortable now he has got off the mark. It was important for him.

“He came on with a real intention to affect the game and that’s what you want.

“When we made the changes and Nathan came on and Sam Gallagher they were ready to affect the game. They knew what was required when they went on and that’s all you can ask for.”

Hughes has experimented with a number of different striking combinations this season with Austin, Danny Ings, Shane Long, Manolo Gabbiadini and Sam Gallagher to pick from.

It is hard on whoever is left out, but Hughes insists he can relate to the issue.

Having been used to playing every week, he was forced to take part in squad rotation at Chelsea alongside Gianfranco Zola, Gianluca Vialli and Tore Andre Flo.

While Hughes admitted he wasn’t very pleased at the time, he admits that with hindsight he can appreciate it did benefit him.

“I am pleased with the options they give me,” said Hughes of his strikers.

“They are all different in their own way and that gives some different options and against different opponents some players will be better served playing than others.

“I have no problem with circling strikers because it’s one position you can gain a benefit.

“When I was at Chelsea as a player a long time ago I was one of four strikers and one of those who wanted to play week in and week out.

“It was the early days of squad rotation so I had to try and get used to it and all four strikers at the time – myself, Zola, Vialli and Tore Andre Flo – all got good time and scored more goals than we probably thought we would do.

“If you get it right and the selection right in terms of combinations it can help you as you are nice and fresh going into games.”