Gabbiadini showing plenty of promise following big money Saints arrival

There’s often a risk when acquiring players in January. Managers have themselves a settled team and it can be possible that a newcomer only disrupts the squad harmony, causing more harm than good. A lack of playing time is also a potential outcome as January arrivals can struggle to make an impact. That being said, Manolo Gabbiadini’s move to Southampton has proven to be as crucial as it has astute. It’s early days still, of course, considering the Italian has made just two Premier League appearances, but he’s rapidly endeared himself to supporters despite registering just 163 minutes of top-flight action. 

Three goals against West Ham and Sunderland means only Charlie Austin (6) and Jay Rodriguez (4) have scored more goals than Gabbiadini of all Saints players this season. The south coast club invested heavily in the 25-year-old, parting ways with just shy of £15m to lure the striker to St. Mary’s, which in January is a hefty amount. The pressure was on Gabbiadini to hit the ground running following a change of league and culture, yet he has taken to his new surroundings like a duck to water. 

A WhoScored rating of 8.79 in the weekend’s 4-0 trouncing of Sunderland was enough to earn the WhoScored man of the match award and a place in the Premier League team of the week, with his double goal salvo ensuring he’s well on his way to becoming a fan favourite at St. Mary's. Indeed, with Claude Puel’s side netting just 28 Premier League goals this season, Gabbiadini has already scored 10.7% of their total for the campaign as he became the first player since Henri Camera in 2005 to score in his first two Southampton appearances. 

While his debut was to end in defeat against West Ham, Gabbiadini has already showcased similar form to his peak Sampdoria days, which ultimately convinced Napoli to splash the cash on him two years ago. While he struggled for regular first team action in Naples, behind Gonzalo Higuain, Arakdiusz Milik and a resurgent Dries Mertens in the pecking order, a goal every 119.6 minutes was still a commendable return. Rather than being considered a failure for Napoli, Gabbiadini was merely a bad fit for Maurizio Sarri’s side. 

Now working under Puel who clearly trusts his new signing, the faith in the Italy international is quickly being repaid. His goals against West Ham and Sunderland also indicate his versatility in the final third which, considering the attacking personnel available to Puel, is vital. Against West Ham, he made a surging run from the left having hung on the shoulder of the last defender before finishing with aplomb at Darren Randolph’s near post. 

In the trouncing of Sunderland, meanwhile, his two goals highlighted just how capable a frontman he is, both at making runs into the box to get onto the end of crosses and receiving the ball to feet under pressure. While Rodriguez and Shane Long offer variation to an extent, the former’s fitness issues and latter’s inconsistency made another striker essential in January for a Saints side that has struggled in front of goal this term. Austin is a more old-fashioned number 9, meaning a quality blend of strikers was vital for Saints in their continued pursuit of a European finish via the league. 

Now, Puel has two frontmen capable of filling the void following Graziano Pelle and Sadio Mane’s summer exits, with Austin and Gabbiadini not too dissimilar from the pair. In the latter, though, he has a forward willing to drift wide in order to open up space on the flanks or drop deeper to aid in the build up play. With Puel able to utilise the creative talents of James Ward-Prowse and Dusan Tadic and the speed of Sofiane Boufal and Nathan Redmond, the quartet can flourish. As Gabbiadini makes intelligent runs across the final third, the former creative pair can utilise their distribution to spot their new teammate moving into space to help put opponents to the sword. 

This in theory should benefits the latter wide pair, who can make darting runs into the space Gabbiadini leaves behind when he drifts wide or drops deep. It’s a small sample size, of course, but the early signs are promising for the Italian. He won’t face defences as accommodating as West Ham and Sunderland week in, week out, yet if he can maintain his fine start to life in England, Saints will have just plucked themselves the ideal frontman to fire them back up the table.