Southampton: Hasenhuttl now has 'big concern' at St Mary's | OneFootball

Southampton‘s lack of a cutting edge in the final third is a “big concern” for Ralph Hasenhuttl, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Saints have lost their last two Premier League games without scoring and have found the net just seven times all season.

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Hasenhuttl’s side looked to have turned a corner when they deservedly beat Chelsea in their final game of August, but 1-0 defeats at Wolves and Aston Villa represent an underwhelming start for the St Mary’s club.

As a result, Saints have registered just seven points from their opening seven fixtures and sit 14th, three points above the relegation zone.

Perhaps more alarming is the fact that Southampton mustered up two shots on target across three hours of action in those two matches, with their XG just 0.34 and 1.20.

Adam Armstrong and Che Adams have both been picked from the off in recent games, with the former being deployed out wide and the Scotland international tasked with leading the line.

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But the pair have scored just three top-flight goals between them, while summer arrival Sekou Mara is yet to get off the mark in English football.

What did Jones say about Southampton?

When asked about Saints’ worries in front of goal, he told GIVEMESPORT: “They are a lacking goal threat for sure and it’s a big concern because they really are not an exciting team to watch most of the time.

“They need some life in this team, but they seem to play so slowly and Hasenhuttl has to rectify that.”

What’s next for Southampton?

With Saints struggling at the wrong end of the Premier League standings, they’ll be grateful to know the fixture list eases up when they return after the international break.

A trip to Manchester City in their first away game of October aside, Hasenhuttl’s side have some really inviting fixtures on the horizon.

They return on Saturday week by hosting Everton, before playing Bournemouth and West Ham, two sides close to them in the current table, after the trip to the Etihad, which they’ll surely see as a free hit.

But they face Arsenal and Liverpool before the season pauses for the World Cup, so they need to take advantage of the meetings with Everton, Bournemouth, and West Ham ahead of the break.