Adam Armstrong assesses his three months at Southampton

The 24-year-old Saints striker was given the difficult task of filling the boots of former hitman Danny Ings, following his move to Aston Villa, in a £15million summer transfer from Blackburn Rovers.

After netting 28 goals in 40 second division games during the 2020-21 campaign, he arrived at St Mary’s with big expectation – expectation that was only fuelled when he bagged superbly in his first half at Goodison Park on his debut against Everton.

But he then went 680 minutes without scoring after that despite a flurry of golden opportunities, before eventual relief with the 1-0 thunder-strike of a winner over Villa.

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But his overall contribution had seen him win a penalty for a late equaliser at Newcastle as well as laying on two assists for his teammates, while being unlucky not to earn another spot-kick at Manchester City following a VAR intervention.

VAR saw Kyle Walker escape a red card for a last-man foul on Adam Armstrong in September

“I’m really happy,” Armstrong told the Daily Echo, assessing his contribution during his first three months as a Saints player.

“I was speaking to my family (before the Villa game) and to make the jump from the Championship to the Premier League is obviously going to be tough. I feel like I’ve dealt with it quite well and played some good games so hopefully that can continue.”

And asked if he’s enjoying life in Hampshire, he responded: “My family is all settled now which is great and I just take every day as it comes.”

Adam Armstrong joined Ralph Hasenhuttl's squad from Blackburn in August

Both of Armstrong’s goals for Saints so far have come in spectacular fashion.

A wicked finish into the roof of the net at Everton, followed up and trumped by the first-time, weak-foot, rocket from the edge of Emiliano Martinez’s area that spelled the end of Villa boss Dean Smith’s tenure.

But having squandered a handful of big chances, notably in the second fixture of the season when Saints drew 1-1 with Manchester United and in the recent 1-0 victory over Watford, it has given Armstrong something to think about.

Adam Armstrong has two goals for Saints this season

He admitted: “It’s nice to score nice goals, although I’d rather take the sloppy ones as well, you know.

“If we keep getting the right chances in the right areas then I will put the ball in the back of the net.

“But I'm really happy with the three points against Aston Villa.”