Friday 28 October 2016 15:58, UK
Southampton manager Claude Puel says he will be patient with record signing Sofiane Boufal, despite the forward making an instant impact on his return from injury.
Boufal, who joined the Saints from Lille for a club record fee of £16m in August, made his belated full debut for the club in the EFL Cup fourth round tie against Sunderland on Wednesday having missed the opening two-and-a-half months of the season with a knee injury.
The 23-year-old stole the show at the St Mary's, hitting a stunning winning goal to secure a 1-0 victory for his side and set-up a quarter-final clash away at Arsenal.
But Puel says he will continue to monitor Boufal's comeback and insists the Morocco international will not be rushed into regular first-team football after spending such a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
"Boufal, of course, scored a fantastic goal. It was an important goal because it gave us a good result, it's important for the squad, it's important for him after five months out," Puel said.
"It was important for his confidence to score this goal and to come back. All is not perfect because it's just the start of his comeback, but we must be patient with him because he can come back step by step.
"For his first possibilities on the team, it's very interesting to see him and now all the people can see his qualities.
"But it's important to keep him at a good level and he can participate with moderation, he cannot play every time."
Southampton will aim to stretch their unbeaten run in the Premier League to six matches when they host Chelsea on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD.
"I think for the moment it's interesting to see my players every time with different players," Puel added.
"For me it's the most important with this capacity to play many games and keeping always the same intensity of play.
"It is important for the future and to have results and for the moment it is a good dynamic between players."
Puel also revealed left-back Ryan Bertrand could return from a hamstring injury to face his former side at St Mary's, while forward Jay Rodriguez misses out along with Matt Targett, Shane Long, Jake Hesketh and Alex McCarthy.
"Jay Rodriguez has stayed with the physio as he had dizziness so he has had a few days without football," he said.
"There are other players with injuries like Matt Targett, Shane Long, Jake Hesketh, and also Alex McCarthy now.
"We will see tomorrow whether Ryan Bertrand can come back into the squad for the weekend."
