Ben reckons Hojbjerg will feel at home

GREAT DANE: New boy Hojbjerg

PIERRE-EMILE HOJBJERG’S return to Southampton today is going under the radar, with all eyes on that other St Mary’s old boy – Gareth Bale.

But the Danish midfielder, who left the Saints for Tottenham at the start of the summer, is a critical part of manager Jose

Mourinho’s new-look side.

That’s the message from defender Ben Davies ahead of the South Coast clash, where Bale’s return to Spurs is certain to overshadow the game.

If the Welsh superstar is all about bringing glamour and goals to the attack, Davies (above) insists £22million Hojbjerg adds steel and heart to the spine.

The Spurs full-back said: “Pierre’s been really good so far. He’s integrated well with the team. You can tell that he’s a born leader.

“He’s desperate to do well at this club and desperate to win every game.”

While that should be a given, Mourinho has been outspoken on the perceived lack of fighters within his dressing room.

In the club’s ‘All or Nothing’ Amazon Prime documentary, Mourinho turns the air blue with as expletive-riddled rant over the side being ‘too nice’.

But in Hojbjerg, Davies is adamant Spurs possess the industrious type of holding midfielder some feel they have sadly lacked.

“His experience is invaluable. He’s an incredibly hard worker,” he said.

“This season’s going to be a tough, long one with the amount of games we have got to play.”

Hojbjerg is not the only one coming up against familiar faces this afternoon.

Kyle Walker-peters moved in the other direction last month when Saints made his loan deal a permanent one.