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Former Southampton star Jo Tessem has taken aim at a Saints star he says has shown him nothing this season and is too happy to pass the ball backwards.
Russell Martin’s side are back in the top-flight after a season’s absence but they are yet to show many signs of staying in the league.
They have rescued only one point from their first six matches, scoring three goals in those encounters and Tessem pointed out one attacker he wants to see more of.
Martin signed a number of players in the summer, including Cameron Archer to boost the attack, but it is Ben Brereton Diaz that Tessem wants to see do more.
The ex-Saints man admits that he wants to see Brereton Diaz take on full-backs when he plays on the left wing, rather than taking the safe route and passing the ball back to his own team-mate most of the time.
“Diaz has not shown me anything this season so far”, Tessem said on BBC Radio Solent about the Saints forward.
“I have been picky on him because I want to see more of him.
“And what I want to see more is when he plays on the left is when he is one on one, I want him to take on the full-back.
“Not just be a passenger and play the ball backwards all the time.”
The 25-year-old forward has played seven times already this season and is yet to register a direct goal contribution so far.
He will be looking to make an impact when Saints face Arsenal at Emirates this Saturday.