The Southampton striker has been woefully impotent on front of goal over the past couple of years.
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhüttl spoke to reporters after this side’s fine 2-1 win away at Leicester City on Saturday, and took time to praise Shane Long, after the striker ended his nine-month goal drought for the club, as quoted by the club’s official website.
The Saints seem to be a totally different side since the Austrian took over as manager last month, and they now sit in 16th spot in the Premier League table, one point clear of the drop zone.
One area where Southampton need to improve further still, however, is going forward, and Long’s lack of goals over the past few years have led to rumours linking Hasenhüttl with moves for various different strikers.
The Republic of Ireland international scored for the Saints on Saturday, however, and if he can find some consistency in front of goal, the south coast outfit would have a real player on their hands.
Hasenhüttl praised the 31-year-old’s performance against the Foxes, when speaking to reporters after the game, as quoted by the club’s official website:
“He is quick, he is working hard and if he also scores as a striker then what more do you want – that is all you can ask. After his injury he is now making the next steps and he proved it in his performance.”
Long’s goalscoring record makes for grim reading. He’s scored just 125 goals in 553 career appearances for club and country – a really poor record for a centre-forward.
And whether he is the right man to lead the line for Southampton for the remainder of the season still remains very much doubtful.
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