Graziano Pelle may have already bagged the goal of the season just weeks into the new campaign, according to his boss Ronald Koeman.

The Italian striker continued his fine form since joining Saints in the summer with a truly stunning winner against QPR.

It was his fifth already this season – and his fourth in the league – and was the highlight of another pulsating Saints win.

Koeman said: “It was a great finish.

“It will be one of the best goals of the season and still more important because it was 2-1.

“Out of the goals I am happy about his performance from the start of the season because he showed his qualities and his personality and he’s always to keep the ball for the team and we can push up with him.

“That’s important for the team and how we play.

“If you score like this you can’t do it better.”

Koeman previously managed Pelle at Feyenoord – the targetman netting 50 Dutch League goals in the past two seasons – and wasted no time in swooping to bring the striker to St Mary’s.

“He did a lot for me in Feyenoord, he scored a lot of goals,” smiled Koeman.

“This one was amazing how he scored.

“The moment in the game was the 2-1 and not 3-0 or 3-1.

“Out of how he scored goals he’s an important player and he has showed his qualities and we are happy to have him in the side.

“He’s learning fast because in the first two weeks I told him ‘It’s not Holland. In Holland if you bring 70 per cent of your physical nature you will win the battle, but in the Premier League you have to bring more than 100 per cent.’ “He’s doing that and then you see how good he is as an attacker.”

After the squad chose to give up their day off last week, Koeman is insisting they have a lighter start to this week before building up to face Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham next Sunday.

And he has encouraged his players to enjoy being second in the Premier League table.

“They did recovery like always and that day (off) they will get this week. We have now two days off and can watch the table and make a picture of the table,” said Koeman.

“We start again next Tuesday.

“We have one week to prepare ourselves and that’s a nice one because to play against Tottenham is always nice.

“Maybe it will be a little bit special for Mauricio and special for the players.”