Benali and Abbott hit the back of the net with new

The Dell pub at St Mary's has this week launched their latest 'The Player Meal' choices, with the duo's favourites available to try until November 22.

The Dell is located where the old ticket office was (Image: SDE)

Abbott, who joined on loan from Nottingham Forest this summer, opted for a calamari with aioli sauce starter and steak with chips and peppercorn sauce.

Asian-food fan Benali, whose only other senior club was Forest on loan, picked chicken gyozas to start and a king prawn Thai curry for his main.

Mix and match Zach and Franny's dishes (Image: SDE)

Finally, the desserts pitted Abbott's British classic sticky toffee pudding with custard against Benali's American-style Oreo ice cream sundae.

Both players found the back of the net with their picks, and punters can mix and match the menu with any two courses for £26 or three for £28.

We wanted to put their culinary tastes to the test, and headed to The Dell within 48 hours of the menu's release to try all six dishes on offer.

It was immediately apparent that neither Benali nor Abbott were in the kitchen when two beautifully presented starters were brought to our table.

The Calamari was a plentiful, crispy and tender serving, while the gyozas were indistinguishable from an authentic eatery in aesthetic and taste.

The starters were presented beautifully (Image: SDE)

Benali probably took a 1-0 lead into the main course, but Abbott's steak dinner struck back and was comfortably the highlight of the meal.

The sirloin was thick, flavourful and tender, and, to my surprise, a better piece of meat than I had tried anywhere outside of a high-end steakhouse.

The sirloin steak was a clear standout (Image: SDE)

A glance at the ordinary menu shows that The Dell does not serve a steak all year round. It is so good, I think they should reconsider that stance.

The Thai curry was a tasty winter warmer with a good dollop of rice, maybe half a dozen meaty king prawns, a few juicy vegetables and a bit of a kick.

Franny's main meal choice was not bad either (Image: SDE)

And the two desserts were spot on for the sake of an extra £2 each. Simple flavours but well presented and a good portion to satisfy the sweet tooth.

Paired with all the usual benefits of The Dell - ample easy parking, clean tables, comfortable booths and welcoming staff - we enjoyed the meal.

Desserts perfect for a sweet tooth (Image: SDE)

Low-level music contributed to a warm atmosphere inside. Although there were only a few other tables eating, it is always packed on matchdays.

The Dell opened its doors in December 2024 as part of the plan to keep more fans on the St Mary's footprint longer and boost the club's revenue.

New Squad Cost Ratio Rules cap the club's football spending at 85 per cent of its total turnover, meaning revenue is more crucial than ever.

With its genuinely good food at not-cheap but reasonable high-street prices, and a bit of added Saints charm, The Dell is well worth a visit.

Maybe trying Benali or Abbott's favourites is the excuse you need.