Pelle to score anytime and Southampton to win is fab 5/2

Graziano Pelle has been arguably one of the stand out performers, not just for Southampton, but in the Premier League so far this season.

The Saints hitman was a new summer signing for new boss Ronald Koeman, who spent £8m on him, snapping the Italian up from Feyenoord. He has since netted nine times in all competitions, and recently scored on his Italy debut against Malta.

He is evens to net anytime against Aston Villa, and his team are odds-on at 8/11 for victory, so this 5/2 special is definitely worth a flutter. Staking just £10 will return £25 plus your principal, which is great value considering the on-field, telepathic relationship he has built up with fellow new recruit, Dusan Tadic.

Not short of confidence, he recently described himself in what many would consider to be glowing terms. When asked in his book, ‘Pelle Talks’, who is better looking when compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, the forward said: “Me. Cristiano is good looking but I am a little bit taller.”

Asked who would play him in a film, the Italian continued: “George Clooney, because he is elegant,” while regarding the player he compares himself most to, he added, “Zlatan [Ibrahimovic]. I don’t say I am as good as he is but I do look like him.”

What more convincing do you really need? Coach Koeman is understandably aware of his qualities, having tutored him before.

“Pelle is a great player and showed his qualities, not only scoring, but as a target man,” Koeman said earlier in the season.

“Little by little the players are learning how to play with Pelle. He’s been a great signing for us.”

Part of his success has undoubtedly been down to good preparation by the Dutch boss: “In the first two weeks I told him, ‘It’s not Holland’. In Holland if you bring 70 per cent of your physical effort you will win the battle.

“In the Premier League you have to bring more than 100 per cent, and he’s doing that. Then you see how good he is as an attacker.’