NOT many footballers would take a step back in order to make two steps forward, but Nathan Tella revealed that he asked manager Ralph Hasenhuttl to play for Saints’ B team in a bid to show off his first-team credentials.

It was a move that paid off for both Tella and the B side, with the Lambeth-born youngster earning a frequent spot in Hasenhuttl’s starting XI, whilst the B team resurrected their form.

B team ‘keeper Jack Bycroft praised Tella and fellow first-teamer Will Smallbone for dropping down to the B team and showing the academy players the way.

And for Tella, after starting the season on the fringe of the first team squad, the winger revealed that he approached Hasenhuttl, with the former Arsenal player eager to prove himself.

Tella began: “It was quite frustrating and disappointing because obviously I wanted to just play football. It's nothing against anyone else. It's just me.

“ I just wanted to play football and that’s what I think was frustrating. I wasn't able to play as much as I would have liked.

“But then I was able to have a conversation with the manager asking what I needed to do to get into the team - just even to just get off the bench, and he just told me just be patient, my time is coming, just continue to be confident in what I do, what has gotten me to where I am.

“I was able to do that, and now thankfully enough my patience, I’m starting to reap the benefits of it.

“Being able to play and just looking forward to more opportunities, more moments time to play in front of the fans, to be involved in games.”

The turning point for Tella came after his performance against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup. After impressing in that game despite Saints being knocked out, the 22-year-old was left frustrated after being left out for the following game against Watford.

Rather than protest, the youngster instead asked to prove his point by playing for the reserve side.

“Obviously we played Chelsea in the cup in the middle of that week, and me personally I was quite frustrated because I had a good game.

“And then Watford, where we won, and I wasn’t able to get off the bench.

“I just wanted to have a chance to just play and get confident, to have a chance in front of goal, a few touches of the ball, to start being used to doing the press again. I just asked the manager if I could play. It was another opportunity to impress him – not just in training, but in a game scenario.

“He allowed me to play and I was able to be involved, to score and the B team were able to win. And that's what kicked their good run of form, as well. That also helped me and it helped them, so I was very happy that I was able to play with them.”