YAN Valery admitted that he was “not really happy because I like to attack,” when first asked to play centre-back by Ralph Hasenhuttl, but says he’s now realised the boss was right.

The 22-year-old became the man of the moment as Saints held on to a 1-1 draw with Tottenham despite having just 10 men on the field for over a half of football.

Frenchman Valery was making his first Premier League appearance of the season and only his second ever senior game as a central-defender, in a trio with Jan Bednarek and Mohammed Salisu.

He had also started and performed admirably in the same system during the EFL Cup contest at Chelsea, which ended with a 1-1 draw and a narrow penalty defeat, but this time he was thrown even further into the deep end.

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Salisu’s sending off for a second yellow after 40 minutes, paired with the fact Lyanco and Jack Stephens remained out with positive COVID tests, meant that Valery had to operate as a centre-back in a pairing for a first ever time.

Daily Echo: Mohammed Salisu was already having an early bath by the time his teammates came in for half-time (Pic: Stuart Martin)Mohammed Salisu was already having an early bath by the time his teammates came in for half-time (Pic: Stuart Martin)

The resultant Harry Kane penalty aside, Saints were able to shut out the undoubted quality that also included the likes of Heung-min Son and substitute Lucas Moura until Anthony Taylor’s final whistle.

“Obviously I never played there so I know I can do better with more games,” Valery modestly reflected, speaking to the Daily Echo at full-time.

“But yeah, I was really happy, I’m really happy with the defence and how they were talking to me, Kyle (Walker-Peters) at right-back as well.

“It was good for a first time so like I said I am really happy with the point and not conceding a goal in the second-half.”

Daily Echo: Yan Valery made a solid pairing with Jan Bednarek as Ralph Hasenhuttl left Dynel Simeu on the bench (Pic: Stuart Martin)Yan Valery made a solid pairing with Jan Bednarek as Ralph Hasenhuttl left Dynel Simeu on the bench (Pic: Stuart Martin)

Valery continued: “To be honest, the first time against Chelsea I was not really happy because I really like to attack.

“But he (Hasenhuttl) told me that I can do it and he knows why he’s pushing me there.

Daily Echo: The French defender's last appearance came in the EFL Cup at Chelsea in October (Pic: PA)The French defender's last appearance came in the EFL Cup at Chelsea in October (Pic: PA)

“After I played against Chelsea I was like ‘okay, it’s fine actually', and when I went on the pitch today I knew I had to do the same as against Chelsea but better and yeah, I was just ready to do it.”

Valery – who has made 44 first-team appearances for Saints since progressing through the academy at Staplewood – has even been used as a right-midfielder before by Hasenhuttl.

Daily Echo: Yan Valery has watched from the bench in all but three of Saints' Premier League fixtures this campaign (Pic: Stuart Martin)Yan Valery has watched from the bench in all but three of Saints' Premier League fixtures this campaign (Pic: Stuart Martin)

The youngster also had an opportunity to practice what looks like his new role with David Horseman’s B team, back at the start of November.

Valery, like Nathan Tella and Will Smallbone also have this term, featured for the under-23 setup in Premier League 2 as a centre-back during the 5-0 demolition of Newcastle, a week after the Chelsea clash.

The former France under-18 international reveals that he was asked by staff if he’d be willing to help out on that occasion, and added that he didn’t need much convincing.

“No, they just asked me,” Valery continued. “And at the time they said you can experience a bit more playing as a centre-back.

“I thought ‘okay, I need some gametime’, and now in today’s game I was more used to playing as a centre-back, so I just thought why not get the experience?”