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MAURICIO Pellegrino will hope to rejuvenate Shane Long by rebuilding his goal-scoring confidence this pre-season.
The Republic of Ireland international was the Daily Echo’s Player of the Season in 2015/16, having scored 13 goals in all competitions during a stunning year under Ronald Koeman.
However, Claude Puel’s disruptive rotation resulted in the striker losing confidence and all form in front of goal.
Although scoring that thrilling last-minute winner at Liverpool in the League Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield, last season yielded a disappointing five goals in all competitions.
Long was, though, used continually as an impact substitute, starting just ten Premier League games, leaving him struggling for momentum. He ended the campaign sidelined with a broken metatarsal bone in his foot.
The former Reading man demonstrated his frustration when he was hauled off by Puel during Saints’ 3-0 defeat Manchester City, having words with Puel and Eric Black as he was taken off having come on little more than 20 minutes earlier for Manolo Gabbiadini. That incident was later put down to miscommunication.
Jay Rodriguez also had a difficult season under Puel and has since headed for a fresh start at West Bromwich Albion.
But, Long, who put in extra training hours while on holiday in Portugal before returning to St Mary’s for pre-season, has stayed on the south coast with the aim of proving himself to the new man in charge.
“For me, last season was a bit disappointing,” said Long.
"I didn’t play as much as I would have liked to and felt I didn’t get the chances that I deserved at times, so I want to hit the ground running this year.
“It’s the first pre-season in a long time that I’ve been here from the start, so I want to show the manager what I have got and leave an impression on him come the start of the season.”
Pellegrino will be eager to help the 30-year-old rediscover the form he demonstrated in Koeman’s last campaign at the club, knowing he can be a very valuable asset.
The Argentine boss is known for being tactically very flexible and, as he assesses his squad in pre-season, will be eager to work out who will make Saints most potent up top, especially being fully aware of last term’s problems in front of goal.
He certainly has options.
Charlie Austin, last season’s nine-goal top-scorer, Manolo Gabbiadini and Sam Gallagher all make up a strong frontline alongside Long.
The Irishman will be out to show he can fit in with what Pellegrino, who has already been working on playing style and shape, wants, especially with the 45-year-old boss said to be focusing time on high pressing. Something that favours Long’s determined and high energy way of playing.
Long was handed a new contract until 2020 after his exploits a year ago, meaning he’s tied to the club until he’s 33.
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