FORMER Premier League and England star Ian Wright admitted he was surprised to see Kyle Walker-Peters allowed to permanently join Saints from Tottenham.

Walker-Peters initially arrived at St Mary’s on loan from Spurs in January 2020, before making his deal permanent over the summer.

Since that £12million move, the 23-year-old has played 90 minutes in every fixture for Saints.

The only time he did not finish a match was when he was replaced deep into stoppage time during the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United.

And former Arsenal striker Wright, who scored 113 Premier League goals, insisted he had been shocked by the departure of Walker-Peters from Tottenham,

“I found it a surprise that Tottenham let him [Walker-Peters] go,” said the Arsenal legend, speaking on his Wrighty’s House podcast.

“All due respect to Serge Aurier, who seems to have found a little bit of something under Mourinho.

“But as a footballer, and what Walker-Peters is doing - I thought ‘hang on a minute, he’s doing everything’.

“He’s getting forward, he’s defending very well. Played brilliantly against (Sadio) Mane.”

Boss Ralph Hasenhuttl recently described Edmonton-born Walker-Peters as a “role model” for how he had adapted his game at Saints.

He added: “I think he really enjoys playing in this team at the moment. We enjoy having him here because he definitely helps us.”