NATHAN Redmond is ready to become a mainstay in Saints’ team after starting the season in a rich vein of form.

Despite Mark Hughes’ side only winning once in the Premier League so far, Redmond has been the one creating most of the chances.

He was involved in Manolo Gabbiadini’s late miss against Bournemouth at the weekend when his cross picked the Italian striker out with only minutes remaining.

And Redmond insists he won’t be slowing down any time soon.

The winger said: “I’m just trying to create as many chances for the team as I can to ensure that we try and win some games.

“The more chances that we create, the more chances we have of scoring.

“My job as a winger is to try and participate in as many goals as I can.

“If that’s through goals or assists, then that’s my job.” 

Redmond is yet to register an assist this season, which says more about Saints’ finishing than it does about his creativity.

And the winger, who has created 12 opportunities this season, has put his performances down to making a conscious effort to change his approach.

“I said last year that I wouldn’t care if I scored another goal as long as we stayed up, retaining our Premier League status was more than enough for me,” Redmond added.

“But I’ve had a summer away working on a few things like my body and I’ve come back feeling more refreshed.

“I’ve stopped caring about things that don’t necessarily need caring about too much.”

After an indifferent season last time out, Redmond had to convince Hughes that he was worthy of a starting place.

He’s gone from battling his way back into the manager’s plans, to becoming one of the first names on the team sheet.

Redmond added: “I was left out of the squad a lot last year and I think there were one or two games I wasn’t in the squad when the gaffer [Mark Hughes] came in. 

“I think he realised I wasn’t in a great moment. But I had a conversation with him just before I came back - after he was appointed - and I’ve been continuously talking to him every day to get a feel of what he wants from me.

“It’s been a positive start to the season for me but at the end of the day there is a lot of work that needs to be done as it’s the team that matters.”