SAINTS boss Ruben Selles has explained the surprise inclusion of Joe Aribo up front in his side's 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Approaching the pivotal clash with Crystal Palace, Aribo had played a total of zero Premier League minutes under Selles while only making the matchday squad once in the Spaniard's previous eight games.

With just 37 minutes in the league since the new year, few expected Aribo to be involved when Saints welcomed Roy Hodgson's Palace to St Mary's. But the former Rangers attacker was handed his first start - as a striker - since December 31.

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“Joe Aribo is a player who played as a striker in the final of the Europa League last year and that is why we chose him today to play in those spaces," Selles said of the decision after the damaging defeat. "I think he helped us a lot.

"I saw what I want," Selles continued. "I saw a player that was in the front and that understood the pressure that we wanted to do and that was making a big effort with his physicality and playing in the area we call the rest zone between the lines, creating the four against three for us.

"He was getting some touches and running into the final third and supporting the team. So yeah, I saw it and I think he has been working really hard, really good to be back on the team.

"Samuel Edozie was also there. I have no problem with the players if they are working hard, and they are showing me that they really want to do it and make decisions and to bring them back even if they were not in the squad for the last game."

Aribo was withdrawn just past the hour-mark with Saints trailing 1-0 to Eberechi Eze's first goal. Shortly after Aribo was replaced by Paul Onuachu, Eze made it 2-0 as Saints fell to a costly third-straight defeat.

The result leaves Saints bottom of the Premier League table, but they remain four points adrift of safety followng Everton's 3-1 defeat to Fulham.