Shane Long starred for Southampton on a day that Enda Stevens gave Mick McCarthy another potential injury headache.
Long is being tipped to return to the Republic of Ireland squad for the Euro 2020 playoff in Slovakia next month after becoming a regular starter for the resurgent Saints.
And the striker put his hand up again today after scoring from close range to give Southampton the lead in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa.
Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said: "We are creating chances now and it gives our strikers the chances to score, with Shane getting the goal today.
"He is always an important player for us and it was nice for him to get the goal."
Hasenhuttl also reserved special praise for Ireland under-19 star Will Smallbone who made his first Premier League start.
"He showed why I trust him because on the ball he is a fantastic player," said Hasenhüttl.
"He has a good view of everything on the pitch and could not be happier than to see him playing.
"It is always a brave decision to give a young lad a chance, but it was the right game for him to play. He showed today that he can be a big hope for the future.
"He has fantastic technique, left and right-footed and he covers a lot of distance on the pitch. With more games, he can get much better."
Ireland boss McCarthy would have been buoyed by his first-choice left-back Enda Stevens' stunning strike for Sheffield United. But the Dubliner was taken off at half-time with a groin injury in the 1-1 draw with Brighton.
Blades boss Chris Wilder said: "We'll assess him but hopefully he's not out for too long.
"He's an important player for us and losing Enda was a bit of a blow for us.
"We're not a group to moan and groan about injuries. We get on with it. Hopefully he's not out for too long."
McCarthy is already sweating over the fitness of James McClean (medial knee ligament) for Slovakia, while Ciaran Clark (ankle) is another injury concern.
