SAINTS winger Sam Edozie has revealed how Russell Martin being “tough” on him has helped him improve his end product.
The 20 year old notched his first senior goal earlier this season in a win over QPR, before adding another in Southampton’s next home fixture against Leicester.
Despite his improved fortunes in the final third, Edozie hasn’t started in four games, with the former Scotland international instead favouring fit-again Kamaldeen Sulemana.
That hasn’t affected Edozie, who remains confident he can take his chance when given an opportunity to get back into the starting line up.
“We’ve got a great relationship,” Edozie noted in an interview with the club’s media team. “He’s tough on me, but I think I need that. He wants the best for me, so he’s going to ask a lot from me.
“He’s very encouraging and shows he trusts me by playing me in most of the games this season, so I can’t complain and I’m willing to work for him.
“He’s on to me about mistakes because he doesn’t want me making them. The fewer mistakes in your game, the better player you’re going to become – that’s pretty obvious.
“A manager that’s going to be on to me with the small things, the small details, trying to get the best out of me, is definitely someone that I need.”
Edozie is clearly fond of using his pace and agility to take defenders on having previously expressed that he enjoys getting the crowd off their feet.
He’s averaged 10.51 dribbles per 90 minutes so far this season – the second most in the Championship behind Sunderland’s Jack Clarke.
His two goals this season and the chances he has created are further evidence that working under Martin has had a positive impact on his end product.
“It was a big weight off my shoulders to get my first goal,” he added. “It was a very big moment. I had my family in the crowd, so it meant a lot to me – I think my celebration showed that.
“I think, before, when I first came into men’s football, for me it was more about just getting at players and trying to take them on.
“I didn’t think too much about what to do after. But I think now, playing more games and getting a little bit more experience, it’s also about that end product.
“If I can play a game and have four or five shots and only one or two dribbles, I’ll be happy with that because that’s an end product. I think it’s just about maturing and trying to improve that.”
He continued: “Sometimes I’ll get the ball and instead of shooting I’ll try to take on a man, and then the chance goes, so he (the manager) will be on to me about that.
“He’ll show me what I need to do next time; get the ball here, shift it and shoot. I think that’s what you need. The more times I get into those situations, I’ll remember what he said and put into practice what he said.
“Sometimes you get the ball and play off the cuff, which he’s always encouraged me to do, so I’m very happy with that. He’s always encouraged me to have that in my game.
“Sometimes it can be frustrating when all of the play is going through the middle and you’re not seeing much of the ball, but he wants you to be patient, stay out wide.
“Sooner or later the ball’s going to come to you. When it does, you go and make the difference.”