James Ward-Prowse insists Filip Djuricic can help Saints improve their cutting edge.

Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool marked Djuricic’s first start for the club, with the Serbia international proving a lively presence.

The midfielder, who is on loan from Benfica for the remainder of the season, was at the heart of two of the game’s most controversial incidents, as he was denied a penalty on two separate occasions in the opening four minutes.

While he couldn’t stop Saints extending their scoreless run at St Mary’s to three matches, Ward-Prowse was encouraged by what he saw from Djuricic.

“He’s shown throughout the week that he’s got good quality on the ball, and he works hard as well,” he said.

“He’s very enthusiastic and wants to get on the ball, so it’s promising.

“That’s his first start in the Premier League; he did very well, and I’m sure there’ll be plenty more to come from him.”

Ward-Prowse admitted that Saints’ struggles in front of goal recently have become a significant problem.

Sadio Mane is the only player to have netted in Saints’ last four Premier League games, an injury time winner against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

“It’s just a technical fault in our game at the minute,” he said.

“It’s something that we need to work on.

“We, as a group of players and coaching staff, are aware of that and we have been practising it during the week, but it just hasn’t come off for us.

“As all good strikers will say, you’ve just got to keep going and going, and the chances will come and one will fall your way at the right time.”

Ward-Prowse insists the players are determined to respond to Sunday’s defeat, which means they are now outside the top four, when they travel to West Brom on Saturday.

“As soon as we lose a game we want to get back out and, obviously, win again to get back on track. It’s a perfect opportunity next weekend to do that,” said the midfielder.