Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has admitted that he would not be the player that he is today without the influence of Alan Pardew.

The Frenchman joined the Saints in 2008 and a year later Pardew took charge at St Mary's Stadium.

Despite the fact that Pardew moved on to Newcastle United in 2010, 23-year-old Schneiderlin has confessed that his former boss helped him to improve his game.

"[Pardew] was the one saying to me to improve on my defensive skills," he is quoted as saying by the Daily Echo. "He was the one who was telling me 'come on, you need more tackling.' So, thanks go to him and his words every day saying that to me."

Schneiderlin recently signed a new four-year contract with the Saints.