When Graziano Pelle joined Southampton in 2014’s summer transfer window no one expected him to have the impact he would have on the first half of the Saint’s season. His six goals in his first eight games meant that early on, Southampton were flying high in the Premier League table and some fans believed a top four finish was a real possibility.

A few months later, Southampton are still in with a chance but the once prolific Italian is going through a long dry spell. Pelle’s last goal came in January against a Crystal Palace side that beat them 3-2 and knocked them out of the FA Cup.

Since then he has continually failed to take his chances, missing sitters and open goals. Manager Ronald Koeman, who couldn’t praise the forward enough at the start of the season, now doesn’t even always start him – opting instead to rely on the Saints' other forwards to lead the attack with Pelle left keeping the bench warm.

Take Southampton’s game at Stamford Bridge against table leaders Chelsea. Dusan Tadic and Shane Long started up front while Pelle was given the last 10 minutes to try to find the net. The match ended 1-1, Tadic put away a penalty, but Pelle was once again unable to make a difference for his team.

Pelle cost Southampton the relativity low amount of £8 million on a three year deal. He scored a massive 23 League goals from 28 appearances for Feyenoord last season but will definitely not replicate that amount this year.

So is Pelle just going through a run of poor form or were the first few months the exception and not the rule?

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Described as a strong and imposing striker 6ft 4in, Pelle should be more of a threat in front of goal – especially from corners – but instead he at times lacks precision and resembles more of a defender than the short, stocky and zippy forwards we’re becoming accustomed to in the Premier League.

Pelle has just eight league goals to his name which when compared with top scorer Diego Costa on 18 (who himself is having a difficult end to the season) doesn’t look effective enough. It's a shame as the 29-year-old was so impressive in his first few months that he received his first International cap; an honour he repaid by scoring the Azzurri’s only goal in a 1-0 win over Malta.

I think Pelle’s form at the season’s opening proves he can find the net and get the winning goal so Koeman should still give him minutes and starts. Every player goes through these problems and once he’s back to his best Pelle really could fire Southampton up the table to a Champions League or Europa League place. It was his early goals after all that put them in contention in the first place.

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