THEO Walcott hailed in-form frontman Che Adams’s work-rate and praised his desire to succeed at St Mary’s.

The 31-year-old paired up with Adams in the absence of Danny Ings during Saints’ 2-0 victory over Newcastle last time out.

Walcott registered the assist for Adams after just seven minutes at St Mary’s – cutting the ball back from the right for the striker to lash home the opener.

Asked what it was like to play alongside Adams up front, Walcott told the Daily Echo: “He’s a hardworking lad, he really is. He wants to do well.

“He’s strong, he holds it up well and he’s getting his goals and that’s what it comes down to in the end.

“A lot of people will judge him on his goals but I see the other side of it. How hard he actually works for the team. It starts from him.”

Adams’s latest strike, his third in four games, sent Saints fourth in the Premier League ahead of the international break.

“I am very pleased he got his goal and I was part of that as well,” added Walcott.

“It set us off to a good start and that’s what we want. We want a quick, fast start to catch people by surprise and we managed to do that.”