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SAINTS head coach Tonda Eckert hailed Taylor Harwood-Bellis as the "ultimate professional" after his performance in a 2-0 win over Stoke, amid interest from West Ham.

Saints rejected a bid from the Hammers, which fell well short of their valuation for Harwood-Bellis, on Friday evening, before naming him in their side at Stoke.

He was the only one of Southampton's three players drawing transfer interest in the squad, with Adam Armstrong and Cam Archer left out of the side.

Harwood-Bellis, a one-time England international, showed his quality early...