RONALD Koeman says Saints are ready to come to terms with a tough turnaround as they prepare for a demanding double header.

Saints today travel to Holland with a 3-0 advantage for the second leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie against Vitesse, writes Adam Leitch.

They will train at the GelreDome this evening, and hold a pre-match press conference, before playing the second leg tomorrow night and then travelling back to Southampton on Friday.

They will have a couple of training sessions before making the longest journey of the season for their opening game of the Premier League season, a Sunday lunchtime kick-off against Newcastle at St James’s Park.

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Though the tie against Vitesse is far from the worse draw Saints could have got, it is followed by the longest journey of the season for a Sunday lunchtime kick-off.

Koeman is remaining positive though and says the team have tried to work on being ready for it.

“It’s tough but we are lucky, Holland is close by, it’s not the normal trip you have to make to Russia or something,” he said.

“It’s another example to play Thursday and to be prepared on Sunday.”

Saints had a small taste of what it will be like last week as they beat Vitesse on the Thursday night before taking on Espanyol in a pre-season friendly, also at St Mary’s, on Sunday.

Koeman felt his side lost a bit of focus in the Espanyol game hopes valuable lessons were learned.

“For some players yes, you saw it in the beginning (against Espanyol), they are a little bit struggling to have a good start in the game but that’s all about we hope we will have that in the next few weeks, the Thursday game and then we have to be ready on the Sunday,” he admitted.

“It’s also a little bit mental. It was hot, a high temperature to play but that’s good because some players get some minutes, some players get 90 minutes, and everybody needs that to have really the competition what we like to have.”

Koeman is adamant that despite the comfortable cushion his side built up with their first leg performance there will be no let up.

He will pick his strongest side for the tie and then worry about Newcastle once the match is over.

“It’s always difficult because you saw if there is less focus,” he said. “We prepare that game as a very serious one and we will put the best 11 in my opinion to reach the next round and then we will see what happens after Thursday.”