Saints could field an entire team of full internationals for the first time in their 590-game Premier League history when they face Sunderland a week on Saturday.

With Jose Fonte, Nathaniel Clyne and Graziano Pelle all hopeful of winning their first caps for Portugal, England and Italy respectively, it could mean a milestone moment at St Mary’s when the squad report back for duty.

Those three were the only players in the side picked by Saints manager Ronald Koeman for the last two games who had yet to represent their countries.

If they were to make their debuts, and Koeman named the same side again, it would mean nine different nations represented by full internationals, including three for England.

The full international XI would read Forster, Bertrand, Clyne, Fonte, Alderweireld, Davis, Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Mane, Pelle, Tadic.

That would underline the position Saints now find themselves in in the football world.

As a Premier League club they can attract players from around the globe, while the lure of playing under a massive name in the sport in the shape of Koeman has proved a strong selling point for international standard players.

It would be another significant feather in the club’s cap, and yet another piece of good news that puts the summer sales further back in the memory.

Saints even had the comfort of having another three full internationals on the bench in their last game at Tottenham – Emmanuel Mayuka, Shane Long and Florin Gardos – while Jay Rodriguez and Maya Yoshida were also out injured.

Koeman will just be hoping that with so many players away on international duty, everybody is able to return fit and on time from their various travels ahead of the game against Sunderland.

That is another winnable contest as Saints look to progress further after an opening seven league games that sees them sit a healthy third in the table.