MAYA Yoshida has urged Saints to “get back on track as soon as possible” after the international break following back-to-back Premier League defeats.

Saints have won just two games in their opening eight games in all competitions and there is some concern considering Mauricio Pellegrino’s men have only faced one of the top-flight’s big guns so far.

Yoshida netted a stunning goal in Saints’ latest defeat to Stoke, making it 1-1 on 75 minutes before Peter Crouch scored to win it for the hosts with only five minutes left to play.

Many of Saints’ players now disappear on international duty, but will be back ahead of Newcastle’s visit to St Mary’s a week Sunday.

Pellegrino’s men then face West Brom, Brighton and Burnley, so the favourable fixtures continue and Yoshida knows it’s paramount that Saints get back to winning ways.

“As a centre-back it means something really small,” he said about scoring. “If we concede two goals and lose I can never be happy with that.

“A goal is a goal but the most important thing is the three points today. But we couldn’t get them and we couldn’t play well.

“Perhaps we couldn’t get the points but we didn’t show our qualities either. That’s my frustration.

“Especially in the first half we are not aggressive enough and we couldn’t the points.

“Now we have to get back on track as soon as possible after the international break.

“The important thing is to come back quickly and fresh after the internationals.”

The statistics from Stoke paint a curious picture, with Saints commanding 70 per cent of the possession overall and having more shots than the hosts.

But it is the efforts on target where Saints’ familiar issues are laid bare, with just three shots on target to Stoke’s six.

“It’s been our Achilles heel so to speak,” said Steven Davis. “We didn’t test (Stoke goalkeeper Jack) Butland enough today and we need to realise that and when we get those opportunities make sure we get shots off and test the keeper.”

Captain Davis has urged Saints to dust themselves down and go again after a disappointing period.

“We had a lot of possession but we didn’t make the most of it,” he said. “It’s another frustrating one and we’re disappointed not to come away with anything.

“Especially when we got back in to the game at 1-1 and you’re thinking there will be only one winner here.

“But we’re getting punished for the mistakes we make.”

“We just need to pick ourselves up and stick together and keep trying to do the right things,” he added.