Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has heaped praise on striker Danny Ings.

The veteran frontman played a pivotal role as his side picked up a key victory against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.

Ings has seven goals in seven games, and is the third Saints player to ever score 10 Premier League goals before Christmas.

"We like Danny in this form," said Hasenhuttl to reporters.

"He's always there when the balls are coming in and the second goal from him with the left foot was fantastic.

"He was a bit unlucky hitting two against the post and having one disallowed in the last game [the 1-0 defeat at home to West Ham] but he is full of self-confidence.

"He's also a fantastic, hard-working character."

He added: "The good thing is, it's not my job to decide this (if Ings makes the England squad), I have to make so many decisions every day but this one I don't have to do and it's good.

"It's nice for England that they have a lot of very good strikers and Ings is one of them.