Gastón Ramírez hopes to build on his first Barclays Premier League appearance for Southampton in over a year.

The Uruguayan came on at Anfield on Sunday to help Ronald Koeman’s men earn a 1-1 draw with Liverpool, setting up the equaliser for Sadio Mané.

Having not featured in the league since the 3-1 win away to West Ham United at the start of the 2014/15 campaign, Ramírez is hoping to make the most of any opportunity he gets.

“I was very happy for the point and to come on. It was a really difficult game and we tried to keep our level. Even at 1-0 down the team was still working hard to get the point,” Ramírez told saintsfc.co.uk.

“I felt happy to come on the pitch because I don’t remember the last time I played for Southampton in the league.

“It was a really good stadium and a big game. I’m working hard to get that chance, and the chance came.

“Everyone at the club knows what I’m doing. I’m very happy to stay here and work for Southampton and fight for my place.

“Of course it is a difficult season for me because I’m not playing too much, so I’m working hard to get any chance and then I will try to profit from that.”

Ramírez says he spoke with Koeman ahead of the campaign getting under way, and was well aware of how hard he would need to work to get his opportunity. That, however, did little to faze the Uruguayan in his attempts to make it work on the South Coast.

“He told me at the beginning of the season that it will be hard,” Ramírez added. “That’s because sometimes he prefers another player.

“But in football you never know. In football, it’s strange sometimes. You need sometimes one chance to change everything.

“Sometimes you have to make a decision on your future. My decision was to stay here, fight for a place and play for Southampton.

“I’m working very hard. I try to impress the manager to give me a chance and profit from that.

“I’m very happy here. Southampton gave a lot to me and my family, so I want to repay that on the pitch. The only thing I can do is work hard.”