RALPH Hasenhuttl has admitted that he thinks James Ward-Prowse is “still missing a little bit of rhythm” after the skipper’s star-showing against Aston Villa.

Saints’ boss praised the 27-year-old midfielder but hopes he will still hit higher gears in the coming weeks, following his return from suspension.

The captain missed three games after picking up a red card at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge at the start of October, and that came following a spell in which he was playing with injury and illness issues.

And after returning in the 1-0 victory over Watford last weekend, it was probably his best performance of the season in the consecutive 1-0 victory in Dean Smith’s last Villa game.

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He put in a stunning recovery tackle on the breaking Emi Buendia as the Argentine stormed towards the Saints half on the counter, as well as stinging the palms of Emiliano Martinez on a couple of occasions.

To add, his free-kick delivery in the second-half came agonisingly close to the second courtesy of a Che Adams header, but for Martinez again.

Daily Echo: James Ward-Prowse played the full 90' in the victory over Aston Villa (Pic: Stuart Martin)James Ward-Prowse played the full 90' in the victory over Aston Villa (Pic: Stuart Martin)

And asked if that was Ward-Prowse’s best show of the campaign, Hasenhuttl responded: “Yeah, I must say that in the first half.

“In the beginning of the second-half he didn’t feel that good but the longer the game was going I think the better he was, and the more dominant he was.

“This is how he should be, I think he is still missing a little bit of rhythm after the three weeks being out, but yes he has to come back to the highest level and keep working on this, and we have to help.”