Southampton beat PEC Zwolle 4-0 in Holland

Most of the goals came in the first half as an experienced Saints team cut through their Dutch top flight opponents with some ease.

Charlie Austin bagged the opener with Nathan Redmond scoring two goals in as many minutes.

The second half was a much more subdued affair with Puel changing all ten outfield players at the break and fielding a younger and more inexperienced side for the remainder of the game, in which Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg slotted home a late penalty.

If questions have been asked as to whether Saints have enough goals in their squad to continue their recent successes next season, then Puel will be optimistic that the Zwolle game indicates they are on the right track.

Puel again played largely the same formation in both halves as he did in the opening friendly of pre-season against DC United in America.

That meant a flat back four with a midfield three consisting of one deep lying defensive player – Oriol Romeu took that role in the first half with Hojbjerg thrust there in the second – with two players slightly more advanced.

There were then three attacking players in a fluid formation that at times saw one up top with two men off him, and at others two strikers with a number ten just in behind.

The first half team saw Austin, Jay Rodriguez and Redmond fill those roles and they looked lively, and as if they had a good understanding of each other.

James Ward-Prowse was the first to come close to scoring with a free kick that the keeper had to turn wide.

Austin did get the first goal on 14 minutes, latching onto Romeu’s through ball to produce a cool right footed finish slotted in at the keeper’s near post.

The £4m man had another decent chance two minutes before half time as he met Ward-Prowse’s inswinging left wing corner, but his downward header was off target.

However, there was to be a spectacular end to the half as Redmond scored twice in quick succession, the first thanks to great team work and the second a solo effort.

Matt Targett started things going with a ball in from the left which Ward-Prowse flicked on to Austin in the area. The striker controlled on his chest with his back to goal and it laid it off to the on running Redmond who finished low into the opposite corner.

It was 3-0 just moments later when Redmond picked up the ball on the right wing and surged forward, cutting inside to open up the space for a low left footed shot that beat the keeper.

The best Zwolle managed in the first period was a long range effort from Mustafa Saymak that was easy for Gazzaniga.

Saints’ young guns didn’t really create much in the second period.

Zwolle carved out a golden chance but Ted van de Pavert somehow managed to scoop the ball over the bar from just a few yards out when it seemed certain he would score.

Hojbjerg had the final say as he was bundled over by a clumsy challenge in the box and stepped up to slot home the resulting spot kick, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Saints now have three days of training ahead of them before facing FC Twente on Wednesday night.

It is expected that Euro 2016 players Shane Long, Steven Davis, Ryan Bertrand and Fraser Forster will get their first taste of pre-season in that match having been left out for the Zwolle due to them only reporting back for training last week.

Saints first half: Gazzaniga, Martina, Yoshida, van Dijk, Targett, Romeu, Clasie, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Rodriguez, Austin.

Saints second half: Gazzaniga, Valery, Jones, Stephens, McQueen, Hojbjerg, Reed, Hesketh (Turnbull 72), Olomola, Isgrove, Gallagher.