ANDERS SVENSSON has backed Gordon Strachan's decisions to keep him out of the starting line-up.

The Swedish international has not begun a match for Saints since the opening day of the season against Leicester, with Paul Telfer and Matthew Oakley having come together to form a successful midfield partnership.

But manager Strachan has hinted at a slightly different strategy for Saints' first UEFA Cup tie for 19 years against Steaua Bucharest at St Mary's tomorrow, which could mean utilising Svensson's undoubted international pedigree.

Contrary to reports in the Swedish national press, Svensson again reiterated that he is happy at Saints, who currently sit at a best-ever fourth place in the Premiership table.

He said: "The only thing you can do is work hard and when you got on the pitch like Saturday just do your best to play, work hard and prove you are good enough to play.

"At the moment, though, we are playing well, winning games and you shouldn't change a team that is winning.

"I'm just happy we are doing so well. I think what we do in the week with the whole squad together helps to bring good results as well."

Svensson has previously admitted he still needs to improve the tackling side of his game, but believes tomorrow's UEFA Cup first round, first leg will be a slightly different style of football compared to the cut and thrust of the Premiership.

He said: "I think it will be a different way of football. Hopefully we can go out there with the support we always get from fans and get a comfortable win at home before going down there, because that will be a difficult game.

"We hadn't talked too much about Steaua Bucharest until after the Tottenham game. It is a big game for us, the players and everyone involved with Southampton and hopefully we can win the game."

Saturday's 3-1 win against Tottenham helped Saints equal their longest ever unbeaten start to a season in the top-flight, but Svensson stressed the players would be keeping their feet firmly on the ground.

He said: "Fourth is great, but we have to take one game at a time and keep working as hard as we are, every day.

"It was a great win. Tottenham is a tough place to come, we defended really well and to get three points there is very good.

"What can you say about James (Beattie)? On Saturday we saw two amazing goals from an amazing player. Kevin (Phillips) also played extremely well.

"It is good fun at the moment and we are all working very hard together."