WHILE he admits his start to life at Saints on the pitch was “tough” frontman Che Adams’s persistent hard work has paid off.

It is well documented the striker took 30 games to get off the mark for the St Mary’s side, after signing for a reported £15million from Birmingham in the summer of 2019.

But since that special strike against Manchester City – a 39-yard lob in front of millions watching on the BBC – the 24-year-old has never looked back.

Now with seven goals in his past 15 games in all competitions, Adams has become an integral part of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s setup – with Saints currently sitting in the European places in the top flight.

But Adams, who now has three goals in his past four games, openly admits it was not all plain sailing when he first made the step up to England’s elite level.

“It was hard to get used to,” he told the club website.

“I had a few conversations with the manager about how he wants me to play and how he wants the team to play.

“At the start it was quite tough, because it took me a lot of time to get used to the league and all the players.

“You’re coming up against people with big egos. Southampton are known for well-known people who are known all around the world, so it was hard at the start.

“But once you get to know them and know everyone’s normal, that we’re all the same, it was easy.”

Adams had netted 22 times in 48 appearances for the Blues in all competitions during the 2018-19 season.

He added: “Coming from scoring all the time to not doing it so much, it took a huge effect.

“I think every striker in every team wants to score goals – that’s what they’re trained to do.

“I think, from my side, I was probably trying a bit too hard to score goals. I was a bit naïve at times – I was snatching at things and shooting rather than passing.

“But I always had self-belief and I knew what I could do, and that’s why the manager brought me in, because he knew I could play a massive part in this team.”

Asked about that goal against City – his first in the Premier League - the striker replied: “A lot of people wouldn’t have thought I’d waited all that time for my first goal, but it was an unbelievable feeling – more relief than anything.

“I think it was just a matter of time. When that goal went in, I went on to score a couple more and it just brings confidence.

“I think confidence is goals and playing well consistently. Way before I even scored, the guys still had trust in me and the manager had trust in me to keep putting me on.

“That’s massive respect to them, because obviously it’s not a nice place where I was at, with not scoring, but it’s not the end of the world. Repaying them feels great.”

Adams’s first competitive goal for Saints came three games into last season’s Project Restart, following English football’s shutdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.

And although he cannot say the first lockdown period was a “nice time” the Leicester-born star admitted the halt in fixtures did him some good.

“I think it helped me a lot, coming away from football for a bit, and just realising what I had to do right and what I was doing wrong at the time,” he added.

“I think it was a great thing for the team as well.

“I was working on my fitness and working on other aspects of my game – conditioning to run harder, work harder and play smarter.

“I can’t say it was a nice time, that lockdown happened, but for me personally it was probably the right thing, and obviously for the team at the time.

“We came back harder, we worked better… it was good for us.”

With Adams in the goals and Saints in the top four – it promised to be an exciting campaign ahead for the striker and his club.