NATHAN Redmond echoes Ralph Hasenhuttl’s sentiments amid striking concerns and insists: “We had to address the defensive situation from last year, we were conceding a lot of goals.”

The winger has enjoyed renewed faith under the Austrian boss and has started each of the last four in the Premier League, despite Saints failing to score from open play in that time.

Moi Elyounoussi’s Bank Holiday strike at Newcastle was the last time they did score from outside a set-piece, with only James Ward-Prowse penalties vs the Toon and Chelsea coming since then.

Starting strikers Che Adams and Adam Armstrong have just one Premier League goal between them, and that came from the latter early in the opening day of the season at Everton.

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Now Saints head into the international break on the back of two consecutive losses, and without a win in the first seven of the league campaign – one of only four teams in that scenario.

Daily Echo: Nathan Redmond was influential and contributed to both goals at Newcastle in August (Pic: PA)Nathan Redmond was influential and contributed to both goals at Newcastle in August (Pic: PA)

Asked about the striking impetus before the two recent defeats, Redmond said: "We had to adjust and defensively, we had to address that situation from last season, because we were conceding a lot of goals.

"I feel like we have done that, but then we also need to get up the other end and score.

"The positive thing is that the consistent talks and meetings we are having, the training is all positive and I think we are just waiting for that one moment to click where you have two or three goal scorers in a game and the confidence can flow knowing that the defenders and midfield players are all playing their role, and the attackers too."

Asked about the mood in the camp, Redmond responded: "Yeah, I feel like the group is still in a reasonably good place.

"Back in March, when you are looking forward to a semi-final, of course things will be in a good place, but when you are five games into a new season, you can still be in a good place.

"You can't look too far into a season after five or six games, you look really at January, February time when the business end of the season starts, but you don't want to get to May and the last few games and think I wish we would have picked up points here, or could have done better there.

"It all adds up at the end of the day and I have seen it in recent years, it is important to have a good start, which I feel like we are, but at some point it is important to turn that good start into picking up a few three points."