Having started the Premier League season as a bit-part player for Southampton, Stuart Armstrong has quickly transformed himself into a key part of Ralph Hasenhuttl's first-team.

The Scotland international played a combined total of 65 minutes in the Saints' opening nine top-flight games, and he may well have wondered whether he could force himself back into contention.

But since starting against Aston Villa in mid-December when the south coast side won 3-1, Armstrong has been a virtual ever-present. The only two games he did not start were a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, and the clash against Liverpool - a game in which he was not in the squad for.

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And his latest outing against Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon delivered yet another indication of why he has become Southampton's unsung hero. His last-minute goal to help seal a 2-0 win at St Mary's means he has now struck the back of the net three times in his last five Premier League games, but it was his overall performance that would have left Hasenhuttl purring.

As per Sofascore, he had a game-high seven shots, with two of them unfortunately being blocked by the Villa defence. And whilst he was a constant menace with his eye for goal, he was just as electric in trying to fashion out chances for his teammates.

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The £7.2m-rated ace finished the game with an incredible five key passes - another game-high. Armstrong was a real live-wire, and showed his creativity and guile by also completing three of his four attempted dribbles. The 27-year-old was absolutely relentless in trying to take the game to Dean Smith's side, and it was just rewards that he eventually got himself on the score-sheet right at the end of the game.

The former Celtic man has proven his worth to Hasenhuttl this season by playing in five different positions as per Transfermarkt, including on both flanks, and even as a holding midfielder. It is a testament to his mentality and professionalism that he has simply gotten on with it, and is still continuing to deliver impressive performances like the one on Saturday.

He really has become his manager's unsung hero. A dependable figure who can wreak havoc with the ball at his feet.

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