MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl insists he is “very confident” Che Adams will start finding the net for Saints and added: “There’s no reason not to trust him.”

The 24-year-old has yet to strike for the St Mary’s side this season, having featured in defeats to Crystal Palace, Brentford and Tottenham.

Adams joined Saints for a reported £15million in July 2019 after netting 22 times for Birmingham City the previous term.

The Leicester-born forward netted just four times from 35 appearances for Saints last season, three of which came in the final two games of the campaign.

Asked how confident he was that Adams would start scoring, boss Hasenhuttl said: “I’m very confident because I see how he’s working every day and how much he invests for getting better and better.

“Yes, you can’t always speak about bad luck in such moments. Yes, there was a big save from Lloris (against Spurs), a big save against Palace.

“It’s really frustrating for him. He had a few chances but also in some moments he took a little bit too long to finish it or didn’t take the right decision.

“Hopefully he scores as quickly as possible because we know sometimes strikers then get a little bit cramped. This is what we don't want to happen.

“At the end of the season he showed he can score and I’m sure he’ll do it again.”

Hasenhuttl, whose side head to Burnley tomorrow (8pm), has paired Adams up front with England international Danny Ings for Saints’ opening three contests.

The Austrian also has the likes of strikers Shane Long and Michael Obafemi to call on.

Speaking further about Adams, Hasenhuttl said: “I would be more worried if he didn’t come to any chances.

“As long as he can get chances, I see it in the sessions every day that he can score. We saw it last summer.

“There’s no reason not to trust him.

“We have with Longy and Michael, two strikers who are pushing hard to play and they trained well this week, also Ingsy and Che. In the front four we have good alternatives, good guys. Everybody to score.

“It’s not so interesting to me who scores, it’s more important that we score and I wish everybody can get the chance and give something to the team.”