Shane Long is reportedly set to be offered a new contract with Southampton after a good run of form in recent weeks for the Saints.
According to The Southern Daily Echo, the 33-year-old workhorse is expected to sign an extension with the Saints before the end of this season with Long cementing himself as a crucial first-team player for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side this season.
Although Long’s goalscoring record this season has been poor as stats from Transfermarkt show, the attacker has proven to be Danny Ings’ ideal partner in the attack, with the duo working almost in sync with each other in recent weeks, and Hasenhuttl has previously spoken highly of the former Hull City striker.
Is Shane Long Danny Ing's perfect striking partner?YesNo
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The Austrian manager told The Daily Mail last year: “Shane Long is a really important player for us. He’s doing so well for us, he’s always there, working so hard and he’s so well-liked by the squad. He wants to play to the end and you can feel he’s not resting with his energy on the pitch, he wants to leave everything out there on the pitch.”
With Long’s current deal expiring this summer, it is a wise decision from Southampton to try and tie down the Irish striker for an extra year or two with the club despite his lack of goals for the Saints this season.
Long has shown this year to be Ings’ perfect striking partner in the two-man attack, and although the forward’s goalscoring stats have been poor this season, the Irishman’s connection with the former Liverpool star has been a large reason as to why Southampton have climbed out of the relegation zone.
