Wayne Bridge heaps the praise on Mario Lemina

Former Southampton defender Wayne Bridge has been quick to praise midfielder Mario Lemina.

Speaking to the Premier League’s official website, the now-retired Saints academy graduate identified the Gabon international as one of the club’s key players.

Lemina is such a great player: his work rate, the way he gets up and down the pitch. He passes forward a lot.

Bridge spoke of how impressed he’s been with Lemina since his arrival in the summer. The enigmatic midfielder joined for what could rise to a club-record fee of £18 million from Juventus, and has already established himself as a key player under Mauricio Pellegrino.

Southampton aren’t doing as well as they should be in terms of scoring goals but his all-round play is great and if he can control the game from the middle of the park they’ll have a great chance.

Saints take on West Brom at home this weekend, and will be hopeful of pushing back into the top half of the Premier League table. The Baggies sit in 10th place, while Pellegrino’s men are just below in 11th.

Bridge, who pulled on the Saints shirt 152 times in the English top flight, also discussed the club’s struggle to score goals.

Southampton need to play forward quicker and move the ball quicker. Defensively, they’ve done all right but they need to move it quicker to create more.

Saints have netted just seven times in their opening eight games of the season.