Ralph Hasenhuttl insisted Takumi Minamino’s Saints debut “showed that he can help us” after getting off the mark at the first attempt.
The Japanese international rifled home what proved to be a consolation effort after 30 minutes, during the St Mary’s side’s 3-2 defeat to Newcastle.
Minamino started for the visitors after signing on loan from Liverpool late on transfer deadline day.
Asked about the Osaka-born star’s display, Hasenhuttl said: “For Taki it’s good. I think it’s always good when you come in and immediately score. It was a fantastic goal, I think.
“He showed in some other movements also that he can help us in the 10 position.
“It was tough in the end because it’s not his game – high balls in the box and he needs a little bit more space in the red zone.
“He showed that he can help us definitely.”
Saints other strike came through a James Ward-Prowse free-kick in the second half.
But the visitors were undone by a first-half double from Paraguayan Miguel Almiron, as well as midfielder Joe Willock’s 16th-minute opener.
Credit: Football Tribe Malaysia
