NEW Saints signing Gavin Bazunu impressed in his first 45 minutes, as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side lost 3-1 to Leipzig in the opening friendly of their pre-season campaign.

Bazunu played the first-half of the meeting at Lavanttal Arena in Austria, but a flurry of goals after the break from Angelino, Adam Armstrong and Emil Forsberg saw the Germans one ahead.

Ilaix Moriba then thumped in an effort for the Champions League side, over Alex McCarthy and into the net, moments before full-time to add to the scoreline.

The two teams played an additional 15 minutes after the 90 minute match to further ramp up preparations for the Premier League season, which begins in three weeks’ time.

Captain James Ward-Prowse was absent for the friendly after picking up a knock in training – but it is reported to be nothing more than that.

Bazunu made a top diving save within 10 minutes, having signed a five-year deal on the south-coast as the first addition of the summer transfer window.

Ibrahima Diallo, who has been linked with a move away from the club, had the best chance of the touring English side’s first-half – firing over after good work from Joe Aribo and Kyle Walker-Peters.

McCarthy was introduced at half-time, bringing Bazunu’s unofficial bow to a close with plenty to be excited by – strong command of his area and confident vocals displayed.

However, Spaniard Angelino opened the scoring less than 10 minutes into the second-half with a low strike into the far-corner from a direct free-kick, before Leipzig made changes to their XI.

Almost immediately after a 10-man outfield change of Saints’ own, Armstrong glanced a header from Will Smallbone’s delivery to level the scores – a friendly, albeit, but his first notch for the club since November.

Up the other end, Swedish international Forsberg slid a shot through McCarthy to restore the Bundesliga side’s advantage just two minutes later.

Guinea international Moriba added the third from long-range with a dipping strike, before Mateusz Lis and Diamond Edwards were introduced for the bonus 15 minutes of play.

Thierry Small, 17, hit the crossbar with a first-time effort at the back-post, unlucky as the ball bounced up on his strike, with around six minutes still to play.

1’ to 60’ - Saints: Bazunu (McCarthy, h-t); Walker-Peters, Bella-Kotchap, Bednarek, Salisu, Djenepo; Diallo, Lavia; Elyounoussi, Aribo, Tella.

61’ to 105’ – Saints: McCarthy (Lis, 90); Valery (Edwards, 90), Stephens, Lyanco, Simeu, Small; Romeu, Smallbone, S Armstrong; Adams, A Armstrong.

Leipzig: Gulácsi; Angeliño, Orban, Forsberg, Klostermann, Szoboszlai, Halstenberg, Laimer, Sorloth, Kampl, Ba.

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