Southampton's Nigel Adkins hopes for Tadanari Lee impact

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins says he hopes new signing Tadanari Lee will have a big impact at the club.

Saints confirmed the signing of 26-year-old Lee from Sanfrecce Hiroshima on a free transfer on Wednesday.

Lee is the first Japanese player to sign for Saints and Adkins has high hopes for the new striker who was officially unveiled on Thursday.

"We are expecting a big impact and are really pleased with how he has trained," Adkins told BBC Radio Solent.

Lee said that he hoped to prove Japanese players could make it in English football and that he wanted to fire the club into the Premier League.

And Adkins added that he could already see him linking up well with striker Rickie Lambert.

"We have had a few practice matches, he has linked up very well with Rickie Lambert and has integrated himself very well with the rest of the squad," said Adkins.

"We've got to improve his conditioning and hopefully we can get him to the level we want."

Lee could play in the FA Cup game against Millwall this weekend, although the club are still waiting for the final pieces of paperwork to be completed.

"We are still waiting for international clearance and if that comes through he can play on Saturday," added Adkins.

"We have high hopes for him. He is an intelligent player and is aware of what is around him.

"It is still very early days and I am very excited about his arrival. I am sure he will compliment the other forward players we have at the club."