Claude Puel: 'Sofiane Boufal has fantastic quality'

Southampton manager Claude Puel has talked up the quality of Sofiane Boufal after his match-winning contribution during this afternoon's 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough.

The 23-year-old joined the Saints for a club-record £21m in the summer but has suffered a disjointed opening few months to his career in England, with injury limiting him to just three Premier League starts so far.

The Moroccan scored his first league goal for the club in style to hand them all three points at St Mary's, though, and Puel believes that he has the tools to become a top player for the team.

"Sofiane is a talent but also it is important to work with a good attitude," he told reporters.

"For example in the first half we saw a lot of dribbles without a good thing, he lost a lot of balls. It was not a good Sofiane. It was important he came back in the second half and found a good solution when he plays one or two touches and keeps his spontaneity.

"He is a good player with talent. It's important he makes progress and after that he can be the difference every time because he has fantastic quality."

The victory takes Southampton into the top half of the table, now closer to the top five than they are to the relegation zone.