LATEST SAINTS BOSS HAS A LOT MAUR TO PROVE

SOUTHAMPTON has been a conveyor belt for managers in the past few seasons.

Mauricio Pellegrino is their fourth boss in as many years, following in the footsteps of Mauricio Pochettino, Ronald Koeman and Claude Puel.

Southampton were hammered when they replaced Nigel Adkins with Pochettino in January 2013, but the Argentinian justified the decision and excelled for 16 months before joining Tottenham.

Koeman was next in line and, again, did well during his two years in charge as he took them into Europe before jumping ship for Everton.

After being sacked at Goodison Park, no doubt he probably regrets it.

Frenchman Puel had a strange year in charge last season, reaching and losing the League Cup Final and then his reign petered out as Saints became dull to watch.

Pellegrino was in line for other jobs before joining Southampton but did not have the best CV, having started his coaching career alongside Rafa Benitez at Liverpool, before mixed spells in charge of Valencia, Estudiantes, Independiente and Alaves.

Maybe the fact he was linked to Crystal Palace and was another former Argentina centre-half like Pochettino, who was so successful, tempted the Saints into taking what must be seen as a gamble. It is an appointment that Southampton, who have made steady progress in the past four years, do not want to get wrong.

It stalled a little under Puel, who could not find the right balance between attack and defence. It was a shock to no one when he left after a year.

Southampton are still struggling for goals at home under Pellegrino.

They have just six in as many Premier League games at St Mary’s and all does not seem to be completely well among the players either.

Sofiane Boufal (above) scored a late winner against West Brom last week and, unhappy at being a periphery figure, he celebrated in front of Pellegrino, making a point.

James Ward-prowse and Nathan Redmond made the England squad last term, but now find themselves on the bench.

Midfielder Oriol Romeu has been an unsung hero in the league, but there is a danger that he could start to coast.

Is Pellegrino pushing Saints’ players in training? Is he connecting with them on the training ground? Can he find the right blend to push them forward again?

These seem to be genuine questions for a club not afraid to change managers, but it only works with the right appointments.

And Pellegrino must prove he is the right man.