Danny Ings lavished praise on Shane Long following Southampton’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa at the weekend.
The 27-year-old continued his fine run of form with a brace, taking his tally for the season to 13 in all competitions and 11 in the Premier League, the joint second-highest in the division.
Ings spoke to the club’s official website after the game and was quick to discuss the influence of his strike partner Long, who contributed to a vital performance and victory at Villa Park.
The forward said:
He’s been unbelievable for the team since he’s come in – the aerial battles, the hold-up play, the running in behind… he was unlucky not to score from the chance I put in.
He means a lot to us as a team and he’s a great player to play with because he doesn’t stop right until the end.
Teams need goals, but they also need the other side off the ball – the hard work, the graft, the effort.
Longy and everybody has been giving that. Even in performances when we haven’t come away with three points, the lads are giving everything, and that’s come straight from the training ground.
Read Southampton’s verdict
Long has never been a goalscorer, but his pace, work ethic and intelligent running in recent weeks have provided Ings with the perfect foil.
It was the 33-year-old whose run from deep effectively created the first goal on Saturday; although he missed a good chance, Ings was on hand to tap home Tom Heaton’s save.
Long’s contract runs out in the summer, and given the regularity at which Ralph Hasenhuttl is utilising him in this busy run of fixtures, it seems he is giving the club some food for thought regarding his future at St Mary’s.
