Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl expressed his excitement about the burgeoning Che Adams-Nathan Tella partnership following Tuesday’s 4-0 pre-season thrashing of Cardiff City, while speaking to the Saints website.
Even if star man Danny Ings does get his wish before the end of August – the England international has rejected a new contract and wants a fresh start elsewhere – Southampton should not be short of firepower in 2021/22.
£15 million Adams was one of the Premier League’s most improved players last time out; the former Birmingham City youngster turning into a brilliantly effective link-man under Hasenhuttl’s tutelage.
22-year-old Tella, meanwhile, felt like a rare bright spark in a dark few months for the South Coast club, forcing his way into the first-team picture after the turn of the year.
If a free-flowing performance in the Welsh capital was anything to go by, Southampton fans have a lot to look forward to with Tella and Adams ripping Mick McCarthy’s side apart in the final half hour.
Could Nathan Tella and Che Adams help replace Danny Ings at Southampton?
“Che and Nathan are really working good together. It’s good when they are showing up,” beamed Hasenhuttl.
Tella and Adams came off the bench in the 62nd minute and combined to devastating effect; the former setting up the latter with two perfectly-weighted assists.
In a night full of positives, Theo Walcott and Moussa Djenepo also found the net, while Mohamed Salisu and new left-back Romain Perraud offered glimpses of their potential in red and white.
“I think it was a serious performance,” Hasenhüttl added. “We tried to stay with a clean sheet, this is the goal.
“We gave a few easier chances away and this was not so perfect. But the way we scored in the second half was fantastic, I must say.”
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