Southampton boss Koeman: Clasie can step in for Schneiderlin

Southampton face Dutch fourth-tier side KVV Quick 1920 on Tuesday evening and sign off their mini-tour with a game against Koeman’s former club Feyenoord on Thursday.

He said: “He’s a flawless replacement for Morgan in that position”.

He holds no hard feelings against Schneiderlin after the midfielder’s £25m switch to Manchester United.

“Of course, he’s still not Schneiderlin – but he’s still young, he has to develop, he has to adapt to the Premier League, the intensity is what you need”.

Both Erwin and Ronald Koeman were returning to their former home, where they both started their journeys in football – the club have a stand named in tribute to the Koeman family at the Euroborg.

And Koeman has moved quickly to replace the Frenchman, bringing in Clasie on a five-year-deal. I know that because I worked three seasons with Jordy.

Koeman introduced Clasie for his debut at the break but it was another of the newcomers – Cedric Soares – who helped provide Southampton’s second, linking well with Tadic before teeing up Sadio Mane for a simple finish in the 52nd minute.

Substitute Bafetimbi Gomis secured victory for the Premier League side by firing home in the 73rd minute.

It was a promising performance and allowed Saints manager Ronald Koeman to take a closer look at a number of his first-team stars, with Clasie coming off the bench at half-time and getting some important minutes under his belt. He has since earned 11 worldwide caps and was part of Louis van Gaal’s squad for the 2014 World Cup finals.