After a somewhat muted start to the season, three wins on the bounce couldn’t have come at a better time for Claude Puel and Southampton.

As questions started to be asked of whether Southampton had one selling summer window too many, building up momentum in a packed fixture list is absolutely crucial.

There can be no doubt as to who has stood out in the wins over Sparta Prague, Swansea City and Crystal Palace; with four goals in the three games, Charlie Austin has more than stepped up to the plate to replace Graziano Pellè as the Saints’ main source of goals.

As his strike-partners, Shane Long and Nathan Redmond, have struggled in front of goal and Jay Rodriguez looking promising before picking up a knock against the Czech giants, the former bricklayer’s burst of goals have been perfectly timed.

It means as Puel’s men get into the middle of a squad-busting run of six games within 18 days, the confidence is high. Instead of feeling heavy-legged and confused by a new diamond system, the side is gaining points and the chemistry amongst the players in somewhat-alien positions is gaining with every game.

It is not that surprising that Austin is grabbing goals, when the problem with the first few games of the season was not creating chances, but finishing them off. The former Queens Park Rangers man has done that his whole career at whatever level he has played, and although half of his haul in the past week has been from the penalty spot, he has looked sharp in front of goal, even if his fitness looks to be less so; the fact he wrestled the ball off normal penalty-taker Dusan Tadic for his first against Sparta in a rather petulant display shows that he is full of confidence, even if it came at the expense of a team-mate.

Having a striker red-hot in form is vitally important for Puel, considering his side at the moment looks somewhat blunt in front of goal, even with Austin’s goals.

Pellè and Sadio Mané’s departures this summer had left the Saints light in front of goal and arguably only the Italian has really been replaced so far; record signing Sofiane Boufal’s return from injury may help with the latter’s absence, although piling the pressure on him is asking for trouble.

The trick now for the Southampton boss is to get more out of Austin’s team-mates. Long hasn’t scored yet and looks a shadow of the forward who had an outstanding second-half to last season, whilst Redmond is undoubtedly talented, but has threatened far more from out wide than in the penalty area.

Arguably the best striker of the lot, Rodriguez’s goalscoring ability isn’t the problem so much as his injury record in the past few seasons.

Whilst Boufal should add an attacking threat on his return from injury, it still wouldn’t be a surprise to see an attacking reinforcement arrive in January as that is the most obvious flaw in the Saints squad right now. But with three months chocked full of games to go, keeping Austin fit and firing is of absolute importance at this moment in time, especially with the added challenge of European excursions arriving quickly on the horizon.

The reaction to seeing the former Swindon Town hitman start on the bench against Swansea was somewhat confusing in that respect, and perhaps serves as a real eye-opener to the fans as to the challenge ahead. Puel is experienced in combining Europe with the league, so keeping one of his star performers currently fresh is not a surprise.

Trying to improve on sixth last season, a mammoth achievement in itself for a club of Southampton’s size, is almost impossible even before the Europa League comes into consideration.

But rather than an hindrance, having European football on the calendar should be embraced and will help increase the club’s profile far more than finishing fifth.

Ensuring that Southampton qualify out of the group stage, whilst staying competitive on the domestic front, should be the target for Puel. With Austin in fine form, the Saints boss has a man fully capable of both achieving and scoring those goals.