Mauricio Pellegrino has challenged Manolo Gabbiadini to be 'really well-prepared', but admitted the Italy striker remains crucial to Southampton's Premier League survival fight.
Gabbiadini has bagged just three goals this term and is struggling for fluency with Saints, but could be handed a start in Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round clash at West Brom.
The 26-year-old has not repeated his blistering start for Saints when he hit six goals in four games following his £14.6million move from Napoli in January 2017.
And when quizzed on the Italian forward's role at Saints, Pellegrino insisted Gabbiadini must keep working hard to push himself back into a regular starting berth.