The Saints, who are winless in the Premier League so far this term, returned to action following the international back with a 0-0 draw against David Moyes’ West Ham at St. Mary’s on Saturday.

 

Chelsea loan star Broja caught the eye of many on the day despite only coming on for Southampton in the 74th minute of the game, replacing Adam Armstrong.

 

 

Hailing Broja’s performance, former Saints captain Hammond insisted that the 20-year-old burned West Ham defender Ogbonna and admitted that he did not know he had such pace.

 

Hammond, who thought Broja was brilliant for Southampton, feels the forward was unfortunate not to score against the Irons, having had one shot hit the post and the other cleared off the line by Declan Rice.

 

 

The former Southampton star also stressed that going on international duty with Albania has helped the Chelsea loan star, who scored two goals for his national team.

 

I thought he was brilliant when he came on“, Hammond said on Southampton’s The Final Whistle podcast.

 

 

He made an impact which is what you want from your substitutes.

 

He looked really confident from his initial touch and that pace he showed when he was one on one with the West Ham defender.

 

I didn’t know he had that in him, but he literally burned him and it was brilliant.

 

I think that just gave him real belief and then when he got that second opportunity to go one on one, got it on to his favoured right foot and it is just a great strike, it really was, but, unfortunately, it hit the post.

 

And then, the header late on, it is a really good header, good delivery from James Ward-Prowse and the timing of the header, it is just a brilliant clearance from [Declan] Rice.

 

But, when he came on he looked like the chances he had internationally have really helped him, the goals he scored, he has come on and you could see him thinking ‘I’m going to make an impression here, I’m going to try and get in this team’.

 

That’s what you want from your substitutes, so he did very, very well today, it was unfortunate he didn’t score, but great strike.

 

Having made a good impression during his short cameo against West Ham, Broja will be hopeful of earning his first Premier League start for Southampton soon.