BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed how “smart” Mohamed Elyounoussi’s loan spell away from Saints “definitely helped him to make the next step in his development”.

The Norway international has been in fine form for the St Mary’s side this season, scoring seven times from 20 games in all competitions, as well as registering three assists.

But ahead of the current campaign, Elyounoussi’s future at St Mary’s seemed unclear.

Signed by former boss Mark Hughes from Basel for a reported £16million in June 2018, the Morocco-born star saw his game time limited when Hasenhuttl first arrived at Saints six months later.

He was then sent on loan to Scottish giants Celtic for two straight seasons – playing 67 times in total for the Parkhead club.

But Hasenhuttl insisted it was a “clear decision” to bring back the 27-year-old this summer, with Saints having always tracked his progress.

Elyounoussi has featured in Saints’ past four league games, during which they have picked up eight points against the likes of Manchester City, Tottenham, Manchester United and Everton.

Asked what the differences were between Elyounoussi now and in 2018, Hasenhuttl replied: “I think this loan time definitely helped him to make the next step in his development.

“It was important for him to get game time there (at Celtic) – it was always a problem here in the beginning.

“It is always tough when you are coming into a new team, then the team is not performing well and you are a little bit under the radar and don’t get a chance to play a lot.

“So, I think he needed this time and we were always following him, looking how he developed his game and it was for me, in the summer, a very clear decision to say ‘I want him back in this team’.

“Immediately in the pre-season I saw he could give me a lot, what I want to have in this position.

“He is a smart player, he can score goals, he is running a lot, covers a lot of distance and is disciplined in the defence.

“He is a quick learner and he learned to be more resilient in the Premier League. This is what you have to be, because it’s tough – it is physically a tough league.

“When you learn to do this, then the package is a good one and I think meanwhile, he showed he is a good package.”

It is well documented at Saints that new players coming into the squad are given vast amounts of information to take on board, as well as having meetings with staff about how they are expected to play.

Quizzed on whether he had to treat Elyounoussi as a new signing on his return, Hasenhuttl replied: “We had also developed our game since he left.

“I think it was important for him to see on what level we are now and what we are demanding on this position.

“Therefore, our playbook was helpful and we definitely used this for every new player when he was coming in – to bring him to the same knowledge, like the others are.

“But in the end, it’s up to him to adapt to the intense game, the more energetic way of playing football, like we try to do it.

“He has all the basics, all the tools you need to have – the result is he played a good season so far.”

Elyounoussi will hope to be involved when Saints host Norwich City in the Premier League on Friday (8pm).