RALPH Hasenhuttl made clear the importance of Danny Ings to Southampton and reiterated: “We will have Danny for a very long time with us.”

The England striker netted his third goal in as many Premier League games when the St Mary’s side sealed a 1-0 win at Burnley on Saturday.

Ings had been linked with Tottenham earlier this month but the St Mary’s boss has repeatedly insisted he is going nowhere.

Asked again about the frontman’s future after he netted the winner at Turf Moor, Hasenhuttl said: “I’ve already given a very, very clear answer to this question – we will have Danny for a very long time with us and this is all I can say.”

Ings joined Saints permanently from Liverpool for £20million in the summer of 2019 following a fruitful season-long loan spell.

Scoring at Burnley was his 36th goal in 71 appearances for Saints - the 28-year-old has now accounted for 46 per cent of the side’s goals since the beginning of last season.

But Hasenhuttl insists his team’s scoring prowess must be about more than just Ings.

“We must always pay attention that we are more than only Danny Ings,” he added.

“He scores for us but the guys are working for him. Che (Adams) made a fantastic assist.

“The guys are working hard, he (Ings) is working hard for the team. He’s a very important player for us.

“Together, when everybody is performing well we are a good team and, in the end, it’s important for him to stay fit and then he’s always there to score.”

Quizzed on the partnership between Ings and Adams, the Austrian said: “It’s not so important who scored in the end.

“Che made a fantastic assist and Danny scored.

“For me, it’s important the two guys are working together very hard for the team.

“I wish every striker gets the chance to score and gives goals to the team – in the end it’s about winning.”