DANNY Ings was left feeling “over the moon” after bagging a brace against Aston Villa on Saturday.

The striker took his Premier League total to 11 for the campaign, becoming the first Saints player since James Beattie in 2002 to hit double figures before Christmas.

Ings could have had a hat-trick in the weekend’s 3-1 win, only to be denied by a Tom Heaton save.

Reflecting on the victory, the 27-year-old said: “It’s massive.

“After the West Ham game, we knew we had to have a reaction and I thought were great and put in a shift from start to finish.

“It was very, very important to try and keep on my run and to help the team.

“I thought I was very unlucky against West Ham not to score and it was good to go out at Villa Park and score.

“I’m disappointed not to get the hat-trick but scoring goals in a performance that gets us three points is something I’m over the moon about that.”

Having already reached double figures before the year is out, Ings claimed he isn’t chasing a certain figure.

“I don’t set targets – I take it one game at a time,” he continued

“I try and give my best for the team and, to get a brace when I’ve normally been scoring one goal here and one goal there, I’m delighted.”

The only English striker to score more goals than Ings this season is Jamie Vardy [17], with Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham level on 11.

Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has previously stated that he’ll be picking players on form and not their reputation.

And with Vardy retiring from England, Ings could be in with a shout of getting selected for the friendlies next March.

Despite this possibility, the Saints striker just wants to continue playing injury-free again.

“I try not to talk about that kind of stuff,” reflected Ings.

“I’m just focused on Southampton and enjoying my football.

“I came here, and my main aim was to enjoy football again and this year I’m really having fun and the goals are following.

“So, hopefully, I can keep building and working on that.”

Saturday’s win at Villa brought an end to the run of five matches with teams situated around them in the table.

It saw the St Mary’s side pick up nine points from a possible 15, having beaten Watford, Norwich and Aston Villa, but losing to Newcastle and West Ham.

This was enough to see them spend Christmas outside the relegation zone and open up a three-point cushion.

When asked to assess how he felt the run of matches went, Ings said: “It’s been up and down.

“We always try and get maximum points and some nights go our way and some nights don’t.

“The games against Norwich and Watford, I thought, were huge. It was very hard to take at Newcastle.

“But this is football, and this is the Premier League.

“It’s watched by everybody around the world because you are so up and down, but Saturday was a very positive day for us.”