Ever since Southampton paid £12 million to sign Shane Long, his price tag has been used as a stick to beat the Republic of Ireland international with. Yet his stellar performances this season should finally have silenced those critics. Long's arrival from Hull City on the eve of the 2014-15 season came after a plea from manager Ronald Koeman to the Southampton board to recruit him an 'English-style centre forward,' in the wake of Rickie Lambert's departure to Liverpool.
His tally of 23 goals in 96 league games for Hull and West Bromwich Albion is by no means a poor record but it suggested to some that Southampton -- seen by rival clubs as cash-rich having sold off a host of their star players that summer -- had splashed out more than Long's market value.
A meagre return of five Premier League goals in his debut season at St Mary's only amplified Long's doubters. But the likeable 29-year-old can rightly point out he was never given a regular run in the first-team by Koeman thanks largely to the impressive form of fellow close season summer recruit and leading scorer Graziano Pelle. Long has had to wait patiently, never moaning about his lack of first-team action or being a disruptive influence in the dressing-room, and is now finally reaping his reward.
The injury absence and loss of form of Pelle has made Long Koeman's go-to man, even keeping new signing Charlie Austin on the substitutes' bench following his bargain £4 million January arrival from Queens Park Rangers. Such has been Long's importance to the team during Southampton's stunning rise up the table that there was no question of Koeman leaving him out of the side when Austin belatedly made his first start in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to Chelsea.
Against Guus Hiddink's men, Long met the challenge of Austin's presence with the determination that has been the trademark of his professional career. While Austin struggled to find his best level against a make-shift Chelsea defence, it was Long who was once again Southampton's shining light. It was Long's persistence that forced Baba Rahman into the error that led to Southampton's goal, finished superbly by their in-form front-man.
Long needs two goals in Southampton's final 11 games to reach double figures in a single top-flight season for the first time in his career and, fitness permitting, he'll have the chance to get closer to that milestone in Tuesday's game at Bournemouth.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe prides himself in his meticulous pre-match scrutiny of opposing sides and there is no doubt shackling Long will be high on the home side's lists of priorities, but that may be easier said than done. Long's tireless work-rate, coupled with a deceptive turn of pace, and his new-found composure in front of goal make him a handful for the best of defences, something Bournemouth certainly don't boast.
Koeman must decide whether to recall Pelle, who ran rampant over Bournemouth in their 2-0 defeat at St Mary's in the reverse fixture, or if Austin is fit enough to start two matches in four days.
What is not in any doubt is that assuming he recovers from the hamstring injury suffered against Chelsea, Long's will be the first name on Koeman's team sheet. After all, the Dutchman has never altered his opinion it was £12 million very wisely spent.