Puel counting down the days until Boufal returns to action

Sofiane Boufal could be the difference for Southampton this season, according to manager Claude Puel.

The summer arrival from Lille is working with the medical team at St Mary’s after being sidelined in recent months with a troublesome knee injury.

“He can make the difference,” Puel said.

“He can beat two or three players in small spaces. This is important.

“We have a good collective, and he has good qualities at dribbling and he can score also and give assists.”

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger believes Southampton could have made another inspired managerial appointment with Puel, who played under the Gunners boss at Monaco.

“He is a very strong manager and he tries to play good football, he is a fighter as well, so I am sure he will be good for Southampton and will bring them continuity,” he said.

“He has managed for a long time so I think Southampton as well will be a tough, tough team to beat. The teams who for me were on the fringe of going into the top four last season were West Ham and Southampton.

“They’re two teams who will certainly have a word to say again.”