NOW that we’re 10 games into the Premier League season, it’s a good time to assess the average ratings of every Saints player.

Only one of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad has managed to play every minute of the campaign so far – and goalkeeper Alex McCarthy ranks highly in amongst the rest for his performances.

Saints had to wait until matchday eight for their first win of the season, and are unbeaten since with 1-0 victories over Leeds United and Watford sandwiching a 2-2 draw with Burnley.

There is one, perhaps, surprising inclusion in the top five, but you may not be surprised to see the general running order with only six Premier League teams conceding fewer than Saints’ defence.

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Who is the highest rated forward? Only Armando Broja and James Ward-Prowse have scored two in the league, with the skipper’s both coming from the spot.

Let’s delve into the Saints’ squad average ratings, according to WhoScored.com…

21-17

Daily Echo: Nathan Tella's rating is the lowest of any Saints player (Pic: PA)Nathan Tella's rating is the lowest of any Saints player (Pic: PA)

  • Key: Player / PL minutes played / average rating

Nathan Tella 84 5.89

Lyanco 1 6.00

Theo Walcott 255 6.11

Stuart Armstrong 67 6.17

Shane Long 16 6.33

Nathan Tella has only played 84 minutes of Premier League action but has been given a lower than 6.00 rating – the only Saints player who has been done so. Lyanco played just one minute with a late debut against Watford, so 6.00 is the base rating a player starts on.

Theo Walcott has come under fire from Saints’ supporters for his performances, while Shane Long only featured late as Saints pressed for an equaliser in the 1-0 defeat to Wolves.

The real surprising one is Stuart Armstrong, who has made three substitute appearances after suffering a calf injury in August. He is one whose rating you’d expect to rise considerably over the year.

16-12

Daily Echo: Jack Stephens was in top form before his injury but his rating doesn't reflect that (Pic: PA)Jack Stephens was in top form before his injury but his rating doesn't reflect that (Pic: PA)

Moussa Djenepo 410 6.33

Ibrahima Diallo 305 6.38

Romain Perraud 436 6.41

Adam Armstrong 705 6.53

Jack Stephens 397 6.59

A couple surprising inclusions here, for me. Jack Stephens hasn’t featured since his injury against Manchester City but he was imperious before then and deserves to be much higher rated.

Ibrahima Diallo and Romain Perraud have probably both been done dirty too, but not quite to the same extent.

Adam Armstrong made a great start to Saints life with a goal at Goodison Park, but has failed to register since – his rating no doubt saved by the fact he has laid a few on for teammates.

11-6

Daily Echo: Nathan Redmond is Saints' best rated forward (Pic: Stuart Martin)Nathan Redmond is Saints' best rated forward (Pic: Stuart Martin)

Che Adams 484 6.68

James Ward-Prowse 697 6.72

Moi Elyounoussi 613 6.74

Armando Broja 243 6.76

Oriol Romeu 850 6.80

Nathan Redmond 639 6.86

Armando Broja comes in as the highest rated out-and-out striker, which is a fair assessment given his two goals in two starts and signs of early promise with St Mary’s substitute appearances in September.

All players in this category are worthy of the solid rating they’ve got, while I hope to see Che Adams’ rise after he now has two goals in his last two in all competitions.

Nathan Redmond, who hasn’t made himself a fan favourite, is Saints’ highest rated attacking player. He’s had top performances against the likes of Newcastle and Leeds along the way, just needs to add finishing touches to climb higher.

5-1

Daily Echo: Mohammed Salisu has the highest average rating of any Saints player (Pic: Stuart Martin)Mohammed Salisu has the highest average rating of any Saints player (Pic: Stuart Martin)

Jan Bednarek 585 6.88

Alex McCarthy 900 6.89

Kyle Walker-Peters 445 7.00

Tino Livramento 896 7.02

Mohammed Salisu 863 7.08

Some quickfire observations firstly are how unlucky Kyle Walker-Peters is, he’s Saints’ third best performer but is behind the other right-back in the squad in Tino Livramento. It looks like he’ll make left-back his own, though.

Jan Bednarek for me is lucky to be this high, maybe I’ve missed something but he’d be considerably further down in my list – but what do I know. Alex McCarthy has likely ended any battle for the number one shirt, despite Fraser Forster’s good cup performances.

But, finally, Mohammed Salisu is Saints’ highest rated performer of the year – and well deserved. The Ghanaian has been a rock for Hasenhuttl.

Tell us what you think of the WhoScored average ratings, who you would place differently and whether your top five is the same?

Full list of ratings:

Mohammed Salisu 863 7.08

Tino Livramento 896 7.02

Kyle Walker-Peters 445 7.00

Alex McCarthy 900 6.89

Jan Bednarek 585 6.88

Nathan Redmond 639 6.86

Oriol Romeu 850 6.80

Armando Broja 243 6.76

Moi Elyounoussi 613 6.74

James Ward-Prowse 697 6.72

Che Adams 484 6.68

Jack Stephens 397 6.59

Adam Armstrong 705 6.53

Romain Perraud 436 6.41

Ibrahima Diallo 305 6.38

Moussa Djenepo 410 6.33

Shane Long 16 6.33

Stuart Armstrong 67 6.17

Theo Walcott 255 6.11

Lyanco 1 6.00

Nathan Tella 84 5.89