RALPH Hasenhuttl has insisted that struggling Adam Armstrong is not under pressure to perform now with Saints and that he is “absolutely convinced” of the striker’s talent.

The 24-year-old forward, who turns 25 next week, is taking time to adapt to the standard of the Premier League despite netting 28 Championship strikes in 40 matches last campaign.

The expectation on the former Newcastle man was raised by the fact he was replacing regular goalscorer Danny Ings as the number nine, and raised further still in an electric start at Goodison Park on the season’s opening day.

However, Armstrong has found the goal just once since – a fateful winner versus injured Ings-less Aston Villa nonetheless, which no doubt bought him more time through narrative alone.

Daily Echo: Adam Armstrong's last goal came at the start of November (Pic: Stuart Martin)Adam Armstrong's last goal came at the start of November (Pic: Stuart Martin)

Goals themselves are not guaranteed, as Che Adams found when it took him 11 months to find a first in the top-flight. What could be seen as slightly more concerning for Armstrong is now the way in which he is being used by Hasenhuttl.

The successful England youth player started as the man to lead Saints’ frontline. Now, when he even gets some minutes, he is often pushed out wide or used as a spare body in one of Hasenhuttl’s new formations.

This is in part a problem of his own creation and therefore complimentary – he is as willing to run down, press and hound the opposition as any. If goals are not coming, that is how he gives service to Hasenhuttl – and the Austrian is more than willing to accept.

It is not the glory that Chelsea loanee Armando Broja or even now Adams have to come to receive. It is probably not the glory Armstrong expected himself when bestowed with the number nine.

Daily Echo: Armando Broja now leads the line for Saints (Pic: PA)Armando Broja now leads the line for Saints (Pic: PA)

“When I remember the first year of Che Adams here, I think at this time of year he didn’t have one goal,” Hasenhuttl recalled, speaking ahead of the visit from Coventry City in the FA Cup.

“When you compare Adam with him then it’s a good start!”

Daily Echo: Che Adams had also not found goals easy to come by (Pic: PA)Che Adams had also not found goals easy to come by (Pic: PA)

He continued: “It takes a little bit longer as a striker to adapt to the Premier League. This league is really tough. Some do it quicker, some take a little bit longer.

“But I’m absolutely convinced he is a player who will score a lot of goals for us in the future.

“So we will give him the time and when he gets time to play, he shows that he can help us.

“I remember some really good games he played so far. But what is also clear is that this season we have a lot of duels up front with Broj, Che, Nathan Tella, Longy. Even Reddy and Theo played up front. There’s a lot of quality up front and it’s not so easy to get in the starting XI.”

The FA Cup fourth round this weekend looks like another opportunity for Armstrong to be the focal point in attack, with Broja and Adams likely rested for a busy Premier League week.

Armstrong himself is a former Coventry loanee while he was on the books at Magpies, and scored two in the fixture for Blackburn versus them last campaign.

Daily Echo: The 24-year-old was prolific at Championship level (Pic: PA)The 24-year-old was prolific at Championship level (Pic: PA)

The number nine, who comes across as a shy and quiet character in media interactions, can take confidence in knowing that Hasenhuttl’s words are genuine.

Under the Austrian, he will be afforded the time to come good on the club’s £15million investment. He was unlucky not to score more at the very start of the season, and there was that Manchester City penalty too.

Hasenhuttl was then asked whether Armstrong seeks advice from Adams, who will relate to his start at Staplewood.

“Maybe, I don’t know how much they talk about this topic,” he admitted.

“I think it is well known here that some players get all the time they need to adapt.

“I remember (Mohammed) Salisu had nearly three-quarters of a year before he was playing for us for the first time.

Daily Echo: Mohammed Salisu is now one of Saints' most valuable players (Pic: PA)Mohammed Salisu is now one of Saints' most valuable players (Pic: PA)

“We see Adam like all the other players as a long-term project.

“We want to invest in him, we want to make him better. We want him to learn and get better and give him all the time he needs.

“I think this is the perfect spot to be in this club because there is no stress. We try to help them. We see that he is willing to learn and this is a good combination.”