MOI Elyounoussi expressed his delight at finally becoming a Premier League goalscorer.

The Norway international joined Saints from FC Basel in 2018, but failed to register in 16 top-flight appearances in his first season at the club.

Ralph Hasenhuttl then opted to send Elyounoussi out on loan to Celtic for the following two seasons, before welcoming him back into the fold this summer.

The 27-year-old scored a hat-trick against Newport County in midweek, before returning to Premier League action for the first time since May 2019 by starting Saturday's contest at Newcastle United.

And Elyounoussi made the most of his opportunity, sliding in to convert a Nathan Redmond cross at the second attempt, with the ball appearing to ricochet in off his knee after it came back off goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.

That made the score 1-1, after Callum Wilson had opened the scoring for the hosts.

The game finished 2-2 with James Ward-Prowse's stoppage-time penalty cancelling out an Allan Saint-Maximin strike moments earlier.

Discussing his goal at St James's Park, Elyounoussi told the Daily Echo: "I have to be honest, it isn’t my prettiest goal I think!

"It isn’t the prettiest goal I’ve scored ever, but it’s my first one.

"I don’t know how it went in in the end, I don’t even remember! I just saw the ball in the back of the net in the end, luckily.

"So I was really happy and pleased to finally get my first Premier League goal.

"I am going to keep working hard to get a few more."

Asked for his assessment of Elyounoussi's return to Premier League action, boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: "I think he deserved to get the chance to play after his fantastic game during the week (at Newport).

"I am very happy for him, because scoring in the Premier League for him is of massive importance.

"I have a lot of alternatives on this position, and it is not so easy to get a chance to play, but he did a good job.

"He is absolutely positive, hard-working, against the ball always very disciplined and finally with some good moves that helps us definitely."