GORDON STRACHAN always thought Kevin Phillips was very good, but after nearly three months working with the former England international, he has come to a fresh conclusion.

The Saints boss does not use his words lightly, when he now describes Phillips as "great".

The £3.25m signing - the second most expensive in Saints' history - made an immediate impact with a spectacular goal against Leicester on the opening day of the season.

The former Premiership Golden Boot winner has performed at a consistently high level ever since, scoring Saints' equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Steaua Bucharest at St Mary's.

Strachan said: "Everything about him has impressed me. His link-up play, his bravery, his intelligence.

"I always knew he was a very good player but I didn't know he was a great player.

"That only happens when you really start to work with people. You do admire people from afar then you work with them.

"They sometimes can disappoint you because you admire them, then you see they have flaws.

"Maybe technical or mental or lifestyle, but he has none of them.

"Everything I thought he had he's got, and more."

Phillips, himself, admits he would like to have scored a few more goals, but Strachan is more than happy with the former Sunderland man's contribution.

He said: "I'd be surprised if at any time in his career Kevin Phillips has ever been a better footballer.

"There's been times when he's scored more goals, but his football has just been absolutely fantastic since he came here.

"It seems to be the thing when you play with Beatts that he scores all the goals and the rest just pick up one or two themselves, but if they start sharing it about then that will be a hot partnership.

"Brett (Ormerod) would run about all over the place and James (Beattie) would be able to stay in the box.

"Kevin's holding the ball up which attracts people around him and he releases it, then the ball gets into the box and you have James on the end of it."

Although Phillips is relatively small in size, Strachan particularly admires his courage on the ball.

He added: "When I talk about bravery when you watch him he holds onto the ball, he doesn't flick at things, he doesn't flick the ball away, he doesn't hope the ball's going to go to somebody.

"He brings the ball under control and he gets kicked and he gets shoved and he gets pushed and now and then you get a foul against him - but he's so brave.

"He puts himself in positions that helps people out and that's what you call bravery."

The FA today charged Middlesbrough defender Franck Queudrue with violent behaviour.

The French full-back will face a hearing after the FA viewed video footage of the incident which saw Saints striker Kevin Phillips sent off last month.

Phillips was given an automatic three-match ban for violent conduct. But the FA also asked their video advisory panel to recommend action after studying television footage of the last-minute incident in which Queudrue appeared to stamp on the back of Phillips' calf before the forward kicked his opponent in retaliation.

Former Lens defender Queudrue, 25, was playing only his third match of the season having started the campaign with a five-match ban - the punishment for his third red card of last term.