Saints defender Toby Alderweireld believes Graziano Pelle is an even greater force now than he was during his sensational spell in Holland.

Pelle moved to St Mary’s this summer from Feyenoord, after a two-year stay with the Dutch club that yielded 55 goals.

Already, he has netted five times for his new side, with the undoubted highlight being his wonder strike in the 2-1 win against QPR.

It was an audacious goal that stunned those in attendance, but, if there was one person inside St Mary’s who wouldn’t have been surprised by it, it was Alderweireld – because he has seen something very similar before.

The Belgium international was closely marking Pelle in the final minute of a game between Ajax and Feyenoord in October 2012, when the striker controlled a lofted pass into the area on his thigh, swivelled and crashed a sublime volley into the roof of the net to level the match at 2-2.

Moments later, Pelle would out-jump Alderweireld to meet a cross, only to see Ajax keeper Kenneth Vermeer make a sensational close-range save.

So, if there is anyone in the Premier League who knows how challenging a task it is to mark the 29-year-old forward, it is Alderweireld.

And the centre-half believes Pelle has become an even more difficult prospect to deal with now.

“I played him before in Holland, with Feyenoord-Ajax,” said the on-loan Atletico Madrid star, who faced Pelle three times in those fixtures.

“He’s very strong. I think he’s better every day. He’s not the same Graziano from Feyenoord.

“He’s getting better, he’s getting used to playing strong, and he’s confident. You could see that with the goal.

“I think he really wants to show himself here. He’s in a top mood now and hopefully he’ll keep making and creating goals.

“Maybe next Sunday (against Tottenham) he will make a goal like this again, I hope.”

Pelle himself admits he took a few games to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, but he believes he now understands what is required.

“I’ve got experience enough now to realise where I am,” he said.

“I have to be honest, it was not so easy in the beginning, but I was lucky I came to England a month before the start of the season, then I had a big time to adapt myself.

“After one or two games I realised that I needed to do more than what usually I did in the past.

“If in Holland I gave up to 80 per cent, here you have to give 110.

“All the games are difficult, all the teams, from the lowest to the top, are always good, good organisation, strong and fit.

“I don’t like to find an excuse. I’m really positive and I’m happy.”

Watch below as Pelle scores a wonder goal for Feyenoord while being marked by Alderweireld