ADAM Armstrong defended new teammate Ainsley Maitland-Niles, saying “I think he is a great fit” after the Arsenal loanee was excluded from the last matchday squad.

Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted he has “a lot of work to do” before the 25-year-old is ready to play in the Premier League for Saints, after the defeat at Aston Villa before the break.

Maitland-Niles did make his debut at Wolves the previous matchday, coming on in midfield as a late substitute in the first of two 1-0 defeats in the Midlands.

The versatile deadline day addition signed a season-long loan deal that is thought to have an option to buy, but Hasenhuttl clearly sent him a message by leaving him out of the group altogether.

It was a decision that meant having only Joe Aribo – who is much more proficient further forward – as a back-up in the defensive midfield area, for starter Ibrahima Diallo.

"Every team has a different way of playing and how a manager wants us to play,” Armstrong, who has appeared in every Premier League match this campaign, admitted.

“But it is something we are always working on as a squad every day to get better and to put performances right on the pitch.

"I played with Ainsley [Maitland-Niles] before and I think he is a great fit for our squad. He has a lot of energy and a lot of quality as well.”

Armstrong was a teammate of Maitland-Niles when he won the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2017 with England – the country’s first appearance in a global final since 1966.

“He can play in a lot of different positions and he was at Arsenal for a reason,” Armstrong added. “He broke into that team and he is a great addition to the squad."

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook