Ruben Selles has revealed that Joe Aribo's track record as a striker during Rangers run to the Europa League final inspired his surprise Southampton recall.
The Nigeria international has struggled to transfer the form he showed during his time at Ibrox in the English Premier League following his move to the south coast, and with the Saints facing relegation this term he was dropped to the U23s by Selles to ramp up his game time away from the first-team. It marks a remarkable fall from grace for the 26-year-old who scored in the showpiece final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.
However, the Southampton boss handed Aribo a surprise recall to the starting line-up for the defeat to Crystal Palace as he made his first Premier League appearance since February - and his first start in the English top flight since December when Nathan Jones was in charge. And Selles opted to utilise Aribo as a striker - pointing to his heroics for Rangers as a factor in his decision.
Speaking after the 2-0 defeat, he said: "Joe Aribo played as a striker in the final of the Europa League last year. So that's why we chose him today to play in those spaces. And I think he helped us a lot in many different phases of the game. We arrived at the situation but we didn't make it. And unfortunately when they arrive in our box, they made it.
"I saw what I want. I saw a player that was in the front and that understood the pressure that we wanted to do and that was making a big effort with his physicality and playing in the area we call the rest zone between the lines, creating the four against three for us. He was getting some touches and running into the final third and supporting the team. So yeah, I saw it and I think he has been working really hard, really good to be back on the team."
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