AN ECSTATIC Armando Broja described the “honour to have the opportunity to play in front of such amazing fans,” after netting his fifth Premier League goal in Saints colours.

Chelsea academy product Broja arrived at St Mary’s as a 19-year-old unknown quantity, but is now heralded across the country and already beloved by Saints’ supporters.

The calm striker, 20, has displayed to his temporary employers and his parent club composure in front of goal, blistering speed and bruising strength, astute choice of delivery and inventiveness from all areas of the pitch.

Although manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has claimed he will ask new owners, Sport Republic, if there is anything they can do to keep the Albanian international, he has no doubt put himself firmly on the radar of Blues’ Thomas Tuchel.

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Broja’s one-on-one finish in the 4-1 victory over Brentford was his seventh in all competitions this campaign.

Daily Echo: Armando Broja received a standing ovation as he left the pitch during the Brentford victory (Pic: Stuart Martin)Armando Broja received a standing ovation as he left the pitch during the Brentford victory (Pic: Stuart Martin)

“Obviously you dream about it as a little kid,” Broja told the Daily Echo, when asked if he imagined he would be scoring with a Premier League badge on his shirt so early in a promising career.

“But it’s just an honour to be able to have the opportunity to play in front of such amazing fans and it’s just incredible really.

“To be given the opportunities from the coach, from the players, from everyone at the club. I’m just honoured to be able to help the team out as much as possible.”

Saints had to prepare for the test of Bees knowing that they had no recognised right-back available, with Kyle Walker-Peters serving a suspension and out with COVID, Yan Valery suspended and Tino Livramento injured.

Broja continued: “Yeah, we obviously knew we had no right-back going into the game but the gaffer gave us the tactics, we stuck to the gameplan and we have got players that can play those positions.

Daily Echo: Nathan Tella was tasked with a new role in the absence of three right-backs (Pic: Stuart Martin)Nathan Tella was tasked with a new role in the absence of three right-backs (Pic: Stuart Martin)

“Nathan (Tella) has done a great job at right-wing-back, we had to improvise a bit and go three-at-the-back and Nathan done a good job there, and we know Prowsey (James Ward-Prowse) can play that position.

“It was just an amazing performance throughout, the team dug deep and we did really well.”

The clash took on an added importance with Sport Republic’s lead investor Dragan Solak and co-founder Henrik Kraft in attendance inside St Mary’s.

It could not have been a better first impression for any of Saints’ players and staff – and perhaps none more so than Broja himself, who is set to head back to Chelsea at the end of the campaign.

It is understood Hasenhuttl went up to the boardroom after the victory to chat with Solak and co, but Broja admitted that the players had not yet had an in-person meeting with those now at the helm of the club.

Daily Echo: Armando Broja took another bruising for his loan side in Brentford contest (Pic: Stuart Martin)Armando Broja took another bruising for his loan side in Brentford contest (Pic: Stuart Martin)

“I’m not really sure, we haven’t met with the owners yet,” the frontman revealed, when asked what their message to the squad is.

“I’m pretty sure that they’ve spoken with the club and they’ve been around and things like that but as players we have just been focussing on just the team really, trying to start the new year off in a good way.

“We knew that we were getting new owners but we were just focussing on our game.

“We’re just buzzing that we were able to produce such a dominant performance today, in front of the Southampton fans, and it’s an amazing night throughout really.”