RALPH Hasenhuttl stressed it was important to “trust” the expertise of recruitment specialists such as Joe Shields, when looking to bring in the next big talent to Saints.

The St Mary’s side confirmed the appointment of Shields as the club’s new head of senior recruitment back in July.

Shields joined from Manchester City, where he recently held the title of head of academy recruitment and talent management.

Saints brought in four players from City this summer in the form of Gavin Bazunu, Romeo Lavia, Samuel Edozie and Juan Larios.

Three of the youngsters have already featured in the Premier League this season, while the Daily Echo understands Chelsea were interested in a £50million proposal for Lavia on transfer deadline day.

Asked how helpful it was having Shields there in the recruitment setup, Hasenhuttl replied: “You know, as a manager, when you pick the players you have never the same knowledge about the player like people like this, who have watched them 20, 30, 40 times or even more.

“When you see them one time and you make some mistakes and think ‘I don't need him’, it’s not, that's not the way it goes.

“That's why you have a department, that's why you have people looking for the players over the years.

“And then you have to trust them and then you have to say, ‘okay, bring them in’, and then it's up to us to make them shine.”

Hasenhuttl was also thankful for seeing Saints be able to act quickly in the transfer market this summer, due to investment in the playing squad from owners Sport Republic.

“You need also to have the money to get them here,” insisted the Saints manager.

“This is also important. I mean, we always had our eyes on the right players in the past but the difference was that we couldn't bring them, in time, when we knew that they were available.

“And most of the time we had to wait until we sold players before we can go to them, and then it was very often too late and they were playing for other clubs.

“Especially for the young players, I think we are good here. They know this and this makes it easier for us.

“But it doesn't mean that every young player in the world can play for us.

“We want to pick the best ones, and then invest all the energy and all the work, what we want to do, to make them better.

“And this is I think a good combination and I think Romeo Lavia and Gavin immediately shows that this is a good way to go.”