Jump directly to the content

Go to <edition> homepage

Ralph Hasenhuttl has suggested Everton didn't show the faith in Theo Walcott he deserved.

The Saints boss was heaping praise on the player, who made a return to the club where he began his career as he joined on loan from the Toffees in the summer.

Walcott returned to Southampton almost 15 years after leaving for Arsenal
4
Walcott returned to Southampton almost 15 years after leaving for ArsenalCredit: Getty Images - Getty
And Hasenhuttl offered a suggestion as to why Everton didn't get the best out of him
4
And Hasenhuttl offered a suggestion as to why Everton didn't get the best out of himCredit: AFP

Walcott has settled in very well at St Mary's, scoring two goals and providing two assists in the Premier League, including a lovely dinked finish against Arsenal, another former club of his, on Tuesday night.

The forward, 31, is clearly loving life on the south coast, claiming he feels 'like a kid again' and fitter playing for Southampton.

And Hasenhuttl echoed these claims by Walcott, while also saying he feels Everton didn't show him enough trust in his two-and-a-half year spell on Merseyside.

"I think it is important for him that he immediately gets the trust that he maybe didn’t get at his last club," Hasenhuttl told talkSPORT.

The Arsenal match also saw Walcott force Gabriel to receive his second yellow card after expertly turning the defender
4
The Arsenal match also saw Walcott force Gabriel to receive his second yellow card after expertly turning the defenderCredit: AFP or licensors

"This was for a player who was coming here in a physically fit situation. This is important, he needed the chance to show up and play and the effort he puts in every game is amazing. He’s delivered what we demand and this is good to see.

"The cherry on the top is that he also scores and makes assists. It’s a complete package of what we hoped could help us and it definitely is."

Southampton go into their Premier League clash at home to Manchester City on Saturday in third place and four points ahead of Pep Guardiola's side.

When asked if his Southampton project is ahead of schedule, Hasenhuttl added: "At the moment, definitely because we’re not where we expected to be in the table if you want to take this as a statement of how good we have worked then yes we’ll take it.

A win against City will take Saints up to second
4
A win against City will take Saints up to secondCredit: Getty Images - Getty

"The last game against Manchester City was important for us to show that we can also win against such a team, play more football against such a team. This was a brave decision to do at the time but now we have learned a lot since then and that has helped us become a better team."

Topics
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
MORE FOR YOU
cricket exchange