HE IS known as the Scorpion King by his team-mates around Staplewood – and this season, Mohammed Salisu has shown a real sting in the tail.

Signed by Saints from Valladolid in August 2020 for a reported £10.9million, Ralph Hasenhuttl has always described as a “long-term project” the young central defender.

And while various issues meant it took until the following February to see him in action for the south coast side, the 22 year-old has now shown his predatory instincts to tame some of the Premier League’s best.

But where does the nickname come from?

He told the Daily Echo: “I don’t know why they added the King!

“But it’s just a scorpion, my friends back in Ghana used to call me that name.

“I think they said the way I play football. They say like I have more legs!”

Born in the city of Accra in Ghana, Salisu’s professional footballing journey initially took him to Europe with Valladolid, where he cut his teeth against some of the world’s biggest names.

He featured against a Barcelona side which included Lionel Messi in October 2019, coming off the bench after 32 minutes following an injury, to try to thwart the Argentinian.

“It’s good to play with the best players, it’s good to mark them to know how you are - your level,” said Salisu.

Asked to evaluate football in England with Spain, he added: “It’s a different league as compared to the Premier League.

“Here it’s more physical, fast, the intensity is high compared to La Liga.

“I think here is more difficult.”

Salisu’s physical presence has helped Saints’ backline considerably this campaign – having kept clean sheets against Watford and Aston Villa before the international break.

He has featured in all of the club’s top-flight encounters and also scored his first Saints goal in the Carabao Cup against Sheffield United back in September.

He said: “So far the season is going on well and I hope everything continues like this.

“I think it’s very important as a young central defender to get more minutes in the Premier League. I am very happy.

“I think I have learned a lot and I have been studying what the manager wants and I have always been watching the games and looking at what he wants.

“That makes it easier for me when I started playing.

“He has been a good manager. Since I came here, he has been good to me.

“I remember before I came here, we spoke. He told me he needed me in the team and that I was a long project, how I was a young central defender, I needed to do what I was doing and I would get more minutes to play.”

Salisu is set to be involved when Saints make the trip to Norwich City in the Premier League on Saturday.