Mauricio Pellegrino says Saints are well aware that each of their remaining nine Premier League games until the end of the season are “massive.”

Saints travel to the north east this weekend to take on relegation rivals Newcastle, with both sides hovering just outside of the bottom three.

Having failed to beat Stoke at St Mary’s last time out, the pressure is well and truly on, but Pellegrino is optimistic his players are up to the task.

He said: “I think every single game from now thinking about the next nine games will be massive because we have to try to do our job as soon as possible.

“We have to be focussed on what we have to do on the pitch – how we attack, how we defend, how balanced is our mentality in good moments and difficult moments.

“The team is conscious about how we need to be in this moment, how we approach this situation and we are ready to compete.

“It is difficult to talk to the fans and say we are getting better because since January the team lift performances but now we need results. That is the reality.

“As a manager I have to think about what to do. We need results but the consequence is what we do on the pitch.”