Mark Hughes believes that today’s south coast clash with Bournemouth is arguably the biggest of his managerial career.

Hughes has managed approaching 600 games across seven jobs but recognises that the St Mary’s match against the Cherries is a do or die situation for Saints in terms of securing Premier League survival.

Anything other than a win would make avoiding relegation extremely difficult, and the situation already looks pretty tough even with a victory.

He said: “I think where we find ourselves arguably it is, I have to say.

“It’s a huge game for the club and the consequences of going out of the Premier League are huge and everybody knows that.

“It doesn’t matter if you have been in a short period or a longer time as Southampton have, it still has an impact on the fans, the surrounding area and businesses.

“A lot of business and work and finance is generated by having a Premier League football club within the town.

“We know the consequences if we go down and it’s going to impact on a lot of people.

“We need to do something about it and that’s what we will try and do.”

Saints will not be condemned to relegation if they fail to beat Bournemouth, but the margins for their survival will get even finer.

“It’s more difficult as the games get ticked off and they become fewer it gets harder and harder if you don’t get points on the board,” explained Hughes.

“We know what we have to do.

“It’s a difficult situation but not one we are apprehensive about.

“We are determined to get the job done and safeguard the future of this club in the Premier League.”

Hughes is only on a contract until the end of the season and under normal circumstances might be considering whether he would like the job on a longer basis.

However, he is not even contemplating it.

“I was asked to come in to try and affect the situation that Southampton found themselves in,” he insisted.

“I am here for the next few weeks and other than that I don’t know. No one has discussed with me anything over and above the games we have ahead of us, and I think that’s the correct way to approach it.

“I am quite happy with that because all my energy and all my focus is about getting us into a position where we are a Premier League club next year. That’s solely how I’m thinking and my approach follows those thoughts.

“I am not thinking about what the future has in store for Mark Hughes, it’s more about what the future has for Southampton.”