MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl heaped praise on summer signing Ibrahima Diallo and insisted: “I am happy that I have him here.”
The Saints boss was speaking after the France under-21 international made his first Premier League start in Boxing Day’s 0-0 stalemate with Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Diallo played 90 minutes in west London, having come in for the suspended Oriol Romeu.
Assessing the former Brest man’s display, the manager said: “Against the ball he was good, aggressive, had a lot of ball wins.
“With the ball, maybe not always the best decisions so far – he could not often play in front – but it was not necessary.
“I think to be a little bit more safe, not too much risk was absolutely the right decision. It’s not so easy to play here, it’s a tight pitch – not a lot of space here.
“You’ve seen it, that it’s more of a pitch for pressing, not so much for playing football and it makes it so difficult to create chances, to come here.”
Diallo had previously started for the club’s B team in Premier League Two before making the step up to face the Cottagers.
“The first half you saw him having a good few fights against their sixes. They are also strong,” the boss said.
“I am happy that I have him here and he will make a lot of games for us, this is for sure.”
Diallo will be hoping to keep his place when Saints host West Ham at St Mary’s on Tuesday.
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