Gabbiadini eager to get back on Southampton goal trail

Southampton striker Manolo Gabbiadini will put the team first as they take on Stoke on Sunday, but also hopes for an impressive personal performance and a return to his prolific goal-scoring of the recent past.

The Italian striker had the chance to take Saints ahead with a penalty against Manchester United on Wednesday, but missed the spot-kick for the first time in his career to leave the game a goalless draw.

Gabbiadini scored six goals in his opening four matches after joining Southampton from Napoli at the start of the year and although the goals have dried up somewhat since, he is now happy with life at St Mary’s.

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“I feel well settled now because I’ve a lot of good and nice people here at the club and they’ve all helped in some way,” he said. “I am at home now.”

“I was very happy at the start I made because that’s what I was brought here to do, to score goals, so that was a big help for me.

“But after some less positive moments I have to keep working hard and keep the belief that I can get back to that scoring form I had.

“I want to keep working hard to get back to my scoring form but it’s not as important for me to score as it is for the team to get results.

“It’s the performance that’s important rather than my own goals.”