New boy Djenepo hits right notes in opening act at Southampton

New boy Djenepo hits right notes in opening act at Southampton
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Southampton - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - August 24, 2019 Southampton's Moussa Djenepo scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien Copyright TONY O'BRIEN(Reuters)
Copyright TONY O'BRIEN(Reuters)
By Reuters
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(Reuters) - Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuettl said he was relieved that Moussa Djenepo's goalscoring was better than his singing after the new signing helped the club to get their first Premier League points with a stunning goal at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Djenepo's debut goal for Southampton, in a 2-0 win at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, came a day after he sang in front of the first-team squad as part of the club's traditional induction ceremony.

"After dinner he had to sing for the team and he did it in an interesting way," Hasenhuettl told reporters.

"I cannot tell you (what he sang) because it was not really clear for me. His scoring is better than his singing."

Djenepo, who joined the Saints from Standard Liege for a reported 14 million pounds, came off the bench in the second half and needed just 78 seconds to score with a curling finish from the edge of the box.

"First touch, a goal, it's unbelievable," the Austrian coach added.

"He has still lots to learn and the good thing for me is that he's very open-minded and tries to do everything we tell him to do."

Nathan Redmond, who netted the second goal in injury time, hailed Djenepo for making an immediate impact at the club and expects the winger to step up the competition for places up front.

"I think everyone can see around the training ground how much of a fun and bubbly character he is," Redmond said.

"He's still only young, but with glimpses of ability like that I think the fans should be excited for some of the forward play we've got going for us this year."

(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; editing by Clare Fallon)

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