Ronald Koeman hailed Nathaniel Clyne as the best right back in the Premier League after the England international rescued a late point for Saints against Aston Villa.

Clyne, back in Saints colours after winning his first two caps for the Three Lions, slammed home an equaliser with nine minutes remaining to ensure Koeman’s men left Villa Park with another valuable point.

In a night where Saints’ attacking players struggled to create against a dogged Villa backline, who were protecting a 1-0 lead from midway through the first half after a defensive mix-up let in Gabriel Agbonlahor, it was a relief that a defender stole in to grab a draw.

And it was typical in this remarkable season for Clyne that it was him again.

“I like to have offensive defenders and in some moments in the game in the last 20 minutes Jose Fonte was trying as well,” said Koeman.

“We know with Ryan (Bertrand) and with Clyney, and always with Clyney, because one of his qualities is to play offensively.

“He has that freedom from the coach and it was an important goal because the forwards had a difficult evening, there was not a lot of space and I think we missed a bit of quality in the last pass or cross in the box and we needed a defender to score.

“One, is more confident (after playing for England) and two maybe it’s more quality because you play international games and you know now what that means for a player.

“He’s in my opinion the best right full back in the Premier League.”

It was important for Saints not to leave Villa Park empty handed ahead of a massive triple header against Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United.

They remain second ahead of hosting City at St Mary’s on Sunday and, while Koeman doesn’t expect his side to challenge Chelsea for the title, or even to come runner-up, he remains confident.

“Until now Chelsea is the team to beat and it’s difficult because they have I think in all the facts of football they have qualities and in defending, and attacking,” he reckoned.

“I can’t say that they have something worse in the team.

“It’s up to the rest and we try to keep our position, to keep our way of playing because we believe in our way of playing brings points but we know after 38 games we will not still be second in the table – but maybe the third.”