Nathan Redmond showed Saints fans the first glimpses that he can provide the firepower to replace Sadio Mane with a quick-fire brace in only his second game for the club.

The £10m summer signing from Norwich has big shoes to fill in the shape of Mane, whose 15 goals in all competition for Saints last season, including 11 in the Premier League, tempted Liverpool to spend £34m on him.

But Redmond showed again that he is up for the challenge ahead as he scored twice as Saints started their pre-season tour of Holland with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over PEC Zwolle.

Redmond bagged two goals in as many minutes in the closing stages of the first half, converting a fine team build-up, and then producing a piece of magic to round off a magnificent solo run.

Claude Puel has given Redmond licence to roam in the early stages of pre-season, with both of his 45 minute spells being part of a three man attack that has seen the England under-21 international play variously at number ten, as one of two attackers off of a main striker and up top as part of a front pairing.

The 22-year-old is responding in positive fashion too.

Though Redmond has never been a particularly prolific scorer thus far in his young career having netted 22 times in 205 appearances at club level, there is little doubting his potential to step up that part of his game in the right side.

Saints are aiming to be an attacking and progressive force under Puel, and Redmond is doing everything he currently can to prove he can be a major part of that.

Another encouraging sign for Puel in the PEC Zwolle win was a goal from Charlie Austin.

The former QPR man may well have to carry much of the goalscoring burden for his team next season as Saints bank on him to replace the goals of Graziano Pelle.

Puel can be encouraged to the start of pre-season.

PEC Zwolle are a Dutch top flight side and were several games further into their pre-season preparations than Saints.

Puel also didn’t have the considerable talents of Shane Long, Steven Davis, Ryan Bertrand, Fraser Forster, Jose Fonte, Cedric Soares or Dusan Tadic to call upon.

As well as fielding an experienced side in the first half, he was able to take another look at some of the club’s youngsters in the second period.

Puel is known for progressing young players through the ranks, which is something Saints are keen to see him do at St Mary’s.

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