Delio Rossi has likened Southampton striker Graziano Pelle to Italian hero Christian Vieri.
Rossi brought through Pelle as Lecce coach.
He told TMW: "He is a little different from attackers that are all the rage now. He is the classic centre-forward, physically strong that serves as a point of reference.
"He reminds me of Bobo Vieri and for the way his career has developed, Luca Toni.
"Players like him often explode late and maybe we do not have enough patience."
