Southampton manager Nathan Jones had to explain why Duje Caleta-Car was not an automatic starter for him.

The Croatian international did not play against Brighton and Fulham in the Premier League in December.

He eventually got chances under Jones, but mostly off the bench, with his most impressive display coming on Saturday against Everton in a 2-1 win.

“I'm absolutely pleased he is now, but I just wanted him to get realise that he was a defender, he wasn't a footballer, he is a defender," Jones said to reporters post-game.

“Once you get him to do the basics and do that then he's a good player. Southampton brought him here for a certain reason but he wasn't as aggressive as I would have liked him to be.

“I think he felt playing football was more important than defending and now he's categorically changed that in the space of two weeks."