'Really good' - Southampton star on return of fringe player as Armstrong rested

The 23-year-old made his first Premier League start since the 3-1 defeat at Wolves in mid-January, as Saints battled to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road.

Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl made four changes to his team, including bringing Diallo in for Scottish international Armstrong – as he tried an experimental formation for the first time.

It saw Moi Elyounoussi play in a central attacking role, behind two strikers Che Adams and Armando Broja. Diallo played on the left of a midfield trio, until Oriol Romeu was substituted in the second-half.

The former Stade Brest man then moved into his usual defensive midfield role, alongside captain Ward-Prowse.

And asked to assess Diallo’s return to the side, Ward-Prowse told the Daily Echo: “Really good. I think to come into the team having maybe not played as much as he would have liked to is difficult.

“It was a difficult game to come into but I think he showed his qualities and his physical ability as well to win balls and break forward was evident today.

“We’ve got real depth in the squad and I was pleased for Ibra to do well today.”

Diallo has made 20 Premier League appearances this season, but only eight of those have been starts due to the consistency of Romeu and Ward-Prowse.

In French publication Nice-Matin, Diallo recently revealed that he is undeterred by the lack of gametime and is encouraged to stay at the club and fight for his place.

He told them: “Coming here, I had no certainty. Oriol and James have been at the club for a long time and have a strong relationship with the manager.

“It’s up to me to continue to fight and make my mark. Whatever happens, this competition has made me, and will make me, progress.

“I do not think of a possible departure. I am fully focused on the end of the season. I don’t like to project myself too much. For the moment, I am still very, very far from being able to claim to aim higher.”