MAURICIO Pellegrino insists Manolo Gabbiadini is a player Saints “need” but has urged the Italian to be better “prepared”.

Gabbiadini has netted three times this season, but has not reached the heights of last term, when he burst onto the scene with six goals in four games.

The 26-year-old, who signed from Napoli in a £14.6m switch last January, has started four games in 22 in all competitions since firing a brace against Newcastle in October.

“The thing for the player is you have to be really well prepared,” Pellegrino said.

“Our reaction on the pitch is about preparation before the game. It’s about what you did in your past, how you prepare every single week.

“The attitude is a preview of the preparation to move to the action and this is the most important at this level.

“Manolo has to be prepared. He played against Spurs at home and he didn’t have many chances but, for me, he’s a really important player for the club. We need him.

“He’s working fine. He’s working hard but sometimes I have made decisions for the best of the team.”

Gabbiadini could get another chance to shine tomorrow at West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup fifth-round, with Pellegrino considering his options in  attack.

“It’s one possibility, but I repeat that I am thinking it’s an option in attack, Manolo is one of these,” he said.

Pellegrino also revealed that he’d been impressed with how new £19.2m striker Guido Carrillo, who signed from Monaco last month, has been settling in at St Mary’s.

While the 26-year-old is yet to score in 217 minutes of football, Pellegrino has valued the Argentine’s contribution.

He said: “Obviously the goal and the chance for the striker are the most important things to complete the job of a striker.

“But you realise quickly when someone wants to help the team, we’re looking for this, and he’s done that in the last two games.

“I think obviously the striker needs help from everyone to create and convert chances.

“And we also need everyone to defend. It’s the same equation.”