SAINTS striker Sam Gallagher is aiming to use this week’s pre-season trip to Austria as a chance to force his way into Ronald Koeman’s thinking.

The promising 19-year-old spent most of the last campaign on the sidelines with a knee injury, but is ready to try and stake a regular spot in the first-team squad this term.

“It’s definitely a fresh start for me and a new season where I can hopefully be injury free and maybe impress and maybe have an opportunity in one of the Europa League games or all the other fixtures that we’ve got coming up,” he said.

Gallagher made 18 Premier League appearances in 2013/14, starting three of those games and scoring once - while also netting in his sole FA Cup match.

However, his progress was halted when he suffered a bad knee injury right at the very end of pre-season last summer.

“I did all the hard work and got through pre-season and then I think it was a couple of days before the Liverpool game,” he said.

“It was like the last kick in training – just one of those things. I just feel like I’ve got the injury out of the way now, and hopefully I can be injury free now.”

While some players can arrive for pre-season safe in the knowledge that they will be a regular in the side, Gallagher is well aware that this is the time when he and the rest of the club’s youngsters must really prove themselves to the manager.

“It’s a big time,” he said.

“There’s a bit of pressure on the young boys – this is your sort of opportunity to put your foot on the door for the rest of the season, get in his mind and maybe sort of influence some of the other things he makes during the transfer window.”

Gallagher knows he already has plenty of experience that he can draw on, though.

“It is a big plus and a big boost for me,” he said.

“I sort of feel like I have had an opportunity and I’ve done alright when I’ve had it, so it’s not so much like I’m going into unknown territory when I come on, so I’m looking forward to getting back in and maybe getting a chance in the Premier League again.”

It is likely he will get a fair crack of the whip, with the club’s Europa League campaign meaning Koeman will likely have to use his squad to its full extent.

“Hopefully it will mean he has to use more players and give more opportunities to maybe the younger boys as well, or maybe just bring a few more players in,” said Gallagher.

“I think it just shows how important pre-season is to maybe put my mark down.”