BRISTOL City are said to have beaten Saints 2-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly this weekend, as Nathan Jones gets a closer look at his squad.

The group have been back training at Staplewood Campus this week after a break with new manager Jones looking to implement his ideas.

Mohammed Salisu and Armel Bella-Kotchap are both yet to rejoin the squad after they have been representing their countries in the Qatar World Cup.

City’s 16-year-old product Elijah Morrison posted on Instagram after the scheduled match had taken place, writing: “2-0 vs Southampton. One assist!”

According to freelance Bristol-based journalist George Townsend, Scotland youth international Tommy Conway, 20, scored both goals for the Robins.

The match was held behind closed doors and was largely a fitness exercise for Jones’s men, who are due to travel to Andalucía for a warm-weather training camp tomorrow.

B team starlets the likes of Lewis Payne and Nico Lawrence are expected to have been involved, after not playing for their youth team this weekend. 

Jones has already taken his first Premier League game as manager, after replacing outgoing boss Ralph Hasenhuttl last month.

He oversaw Saints during their 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, before the Premier League paused for the unprecedented winter World Cup.

Saints sit second from bottom in the league after 15 matches but with only seven points between them and ninth, they can quickly scale the standings should they post an improved run.

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