Opinion: Southampton’s £18m star could be the difference between a top-10 finish and mid-table obscurity

Why the addition of Danny Ings would add extra threat to the Saints attack

Southampton have had a bad history of not being able to score enough goals to really progress in the Premier League. They just about stayed in the top-division even after scoring only 37 goals from 38 games, which is less than a goal per game.

For Mark Hughes, the problems were crystal clear – improve the defence further and also improve the attacking side of the game. The likes of Charlie Austin, Manolo Gabbiadini and Shane Long haven’t been able to take their chances and claim that number one striker spot.

The Welshman then came up with a clever business on the deadline day. Southampton signed Danny Ings from Liverpool, initially on a loan deal which will become permanent next year for a fee around £18m plus £2m add-ons.

The 26-year-old has really made a bright start to the season, scoring two goals, and giving new kinds of problems to the defenders. Here’s why Ings can be the man to add necessary goals to this Southampton side:

Player Analysis – Danny Ings

Ings is a typical nuisance-causing centre-forward who won’t give an extra second to the defenders. He generally likes to play on the shoulder of the last man and would look to make a spinning run around his defender to have the maximum chance of freeing up the attention.

His best attribute as a striker is his ability to run the channels and quickly go into the box after setting up the play. This indicates his hunger to be around the goal to have the best chance of scoring. The part of the reason why Liverpool bought him a few years back is his pressing ability off the ball.

Ings’ progress was hampered by two severe injuries at Anfield, but his ruthlessness in front of goal can’t be counted out. He still remains a guy who tends to convert most of his chances, which provides a team like Southampton with a big lift.

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His goal against Crystal Palace was a pure example of tenacity and chasing long balls over the top. This should excite the Southampton fans and increase the team’s prospects of bettering last season’s low-level performances.