Adam Armstrong on Southampton transfer, Blackburn and more

The former Newcastle forward joined Saints almost exactly two weeks ago to the date, and has made a big impact in those 13 days.

The 24-year-old forward had been prepared and ready for a Championship season, though, amid rumours circling of a move elsewhere to the top-flight.

He still took part in a full pre-season and had played games with Tony Mowbray’s Rovers side, although he did miss their opening fixture of the Championship campaign.

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Speaking about the transfer, Armstrong revealed: “It was a whirlwind. I got a phone call saying: ‘You need to go down to Southampton’.

“I was training with Saints two days after training with Blackburn.

“I knew some of the lads here already, like Stevo (Jack Stephens) from Coventry, I knew Kyle (Walker-Peters) from England youth and I knew Che (Adams) when playing against him in the Championship.

“Everyone has settled us right in, it’s been brilliant.”

Including an initial loan spell in League One, Armstrong spent three-and-a-half years with the Lancashire outfit – scoring 49 league goals.

After a relatively long and prosperous spell with the club, Armstrong went round the whole club and thanked everybody from top to bottom before departing.

Adam Armstrong provided the majority of Blackburn Rovers' goals during the 2020-21 season

And for the fans, he had filmed and released a feature interview with the club website thanking them for the support.

He reveals that that was his decision, saying: “That was my idea. You need to show the love.

“I’d been there for three years. It was my second home. It was the first time I’d left Newcastle permanently.

“The staff, the lads, they were all great with me. I had to show the appreciation for what they had done for me, they had got me to the Premier League.”

Saints is now his second permanent club since leaving the Toon, and with a whole new bunch of teammates to link up with – the three aforementioned familiar characters aside – Armstrong has done well to fit in to the style of play.

He looks a natural Ralph Hasenhuttl player, with the high-press just an innate feature of his game.

Adam Armstrong in St Mary's action on his home debut

That same press, along with Adams, led to his opening goal at Everton during the first weekend of the 2021-22 Premier League season – although it did all go sour in the second-half for Saints.

He added: “I don’t know what it is, we just link up well. We actually have a really good connection off the pitch, that makes it much better on the pitch, it always helps.

“It happens naturally but it has only been two games, we want to combine a lot more like that over the season.

“I’ve had that in my game since I was a little lad (pressing). I’m quick. I like getting at defenders and pressing them. I played liked that under Mowbray at both Blackburn and Coventry.

“It’s nothing new to me. I enjoy it and hopefully I can create chances off it as well, capitalising on mistakes just like we did against Everton.”