If Saints are going to have a reasonable chance of finishing in the top four, they’ll probably need to get close to the 70-point mark.

Somewhere around there – occasionally a bit higher, or even a bit lower – is usually the amount required to secure fourth place.

With Saints on 49 points now, they would need seven wins, or the equivalent of them, in their last ten games to reach 70.

You feel, therefore, that they would require an absolute minimum of six victories to have a fighting chance.

Not simple, granted, but perfectly possible when you look at their remaining fixtures.

Away trips to Chelsea and Manchester City might bookend the list – and you still wouldn’t rule Saints out in either of those – but the eight in between provide the potential for plenty of points.

Of course, they will need to be significantly better in the final third than they have been in recent weeks.

But with a near-fully-fit squad for the first time in a while and a long-awaited goal in their last outing, there is at least reason to believe that can be the case.

Certainly, if the likes of Toby Alderweireld, Morgan Schneiderlin, Victor Wanyama, Jose Fonte and the outstanding full-back pairing of Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand remain fit and available during the run-in, Saints will not concede many goals.

That gives them every chance of putting together another extended unbeaten run this season.

Chelsea and City are, obviously, out of reach, while I can’t see them finishing above Arsenal, who have a decent run-in.

Manchester United might be four points ahead, but they remain unconvincing and, with Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea in four of their next five matches – plus Arsenal still to come – they are definitely catchable.

Saints might be a sliver behind Liverpool and Tottenham, but it’s close and goal difference currently plays into the hands of Ronald Koeman’s team.

I feel like, with so few injury problems ahead of the run-in, Saints have one last, big push in them this season.

I do think they’ll fall just short of 70 points (I’ve got them finishing on 67), but that will undoubtedly be good enough for Europe – I just hope for them that it’s too good for the Europa League.

Gut feeling, though, is that they’ll finish fifth or sixth.

GORDON SIMPSON’S PREDICTIONS: 

Mar 15 Chelsea (a) L.

I’m really tempted to say Saints will get something, especially with Toby Alderweireld set to return, but Chelsea are the best in the league by some distance, and it doesn’t get harder than going there at the moment.

Mar 21 Burnley (h) W.

They’ve improved since the start of the season, but Saints are far better than them.

Apr 4 Everton (a) D.

Tough one to call. It’s been an easier place to go this season than in recent years, but they’ve at least not been losing at home quite as frequently in recent weeks. At least a point for Saints.

Apr 11 Hull (h) W.

They might be defensive and they might battle hard, but you have to beat teams from the bottom half at home – and Saints should do that.

Apr 18 Stoke (a) D.

A bit like the trip to Everton, you can make a good case for Saints winning, but Stoke away is one of those games that, for whatever reason, just always feels like a draw.

Apr 25 Tottenham (h) D.

It would perhaps be the sweetest of all the wins this season for the fans, but Mauricio Pochettino has them going well now. Don’t think there’s much between the two.

May 2 Sunderland (a) W.

If you can beat them 8-0 at home, then you can certainly win at their place. They’ll make it hard, sure, but Saints are far superior.

May 9 Leicester (a) W.

Saints are very good when they’re away, and Leicester aren’t very good when they’re at home.

May 16 Aston Villa (h) W.

They’ve only won one of their last 13 – and that was a gift. Tim Sherwood might rally them, but this is as nice a final home game as you could realistically hope to get.

May 24 Manchester City (a) L.

So many things could come into play here, depending on what’s at stake for both teams. But City are one of the few sides who are undoubtedly better than Saints, so I’d have to pick them now, all other things being equal.