Tuesday 27 December 2016 13:15, UK
Claude Puel has labelled Hugo Lloris Tottenham's "most important player" ahead of a reunion with his old Lyon goalkeeper.
Puel signed Lloris for Lyon in the summer of 2008 and later made the keeper his captain, the same role he now has at Spurs.
Lloris will lead his team-mates out at Southampton on Wednesday night, live on Sky Sports, fresh from signing a new deal and with his former boss enjoying an impressive first season in the Premier League at St Mary's.
Puel says the France No 1's ability with his hands and feet mark him out as a top-class keeper for the modern game.
"He's an important player for Tottenham because he is clinical every time, he will make saves in every game," the Southampton manager said. "The most important player at Tottenham, he has a good level, good quality, character, and he's a good captain.
"He was my player at Lyon and I gave him the role of captain, He was a young player but always an important player. It was important for Tottenham to keep him with a new contract.
"I made him captain because he sets an example, inside and outside the ground. He gives good words, good sentences about the game. He always recognises the situation. It's a good thing for a trainer to have a player like him.
"Before Lyon he played at Nice, and when he came to Lyon at one point he made progress with the ball. He worked with the long ball and short passes and on good control also.
"At the beginning of his career it was not his first quality but now a goalkeeper with good feet is important for that style of play."
A win would move Southampton into seventh, six points behind Tottenham who are managed by ex-Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Puel said: "It's an important game for us. I wish Pochettino a good comeback with good support, but I wish for a good result for us."
