PREMIER League icon Alan Shearer called Danny Ings a ‘real contender’ to win this season’s Golden Boot.

Ings continued his impressive campaign for Saints by scoring one and creating another against Norwich last Friday.

The St Mary’s ace is just three goals shy of Leicester’s Jamie Vardy, who has found the back of the net 19 times this season.

Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer, named Ings in his Team of the Week and paid tribute to his excellent return to action.

Southampton’s striker has hit the ground running after the break and looks a real contender for the Golden Boot after his latest clinical finish,” the Newcastle legend told the Premier League’s official website.

“He is more than just a goalscorer though, as he showed with his assist for Stuart Armstrong.”

Ings’ strike against Norwich took him to 16 Premier League goals for the season, which is the first time since James Beattie in 2002/03 that a St Mary’s player has scored more than 15 times.

The former Liverpool striker played a key role in helping Ralph Hasenhuttl's side climb away from the relegation zone over the Christmas period.

Ings bagged 10 goals in 11 matches from the end of November to the beginning of January, also scoring in five consecutive games.