CLAUDE Puel and a host of Saints’ first team stars brought smiles to the faces of patients at Southampton General Hospital.

As part of an annual visit, team manager Claude Puel, Maya Yoshida, Ryan Bertrand, Fraser Forster, Jay Rodriguez, James Ward-Prowse and Manolo Gabbiadini were just some of the big names who popped down to the wards ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League clash against Manchester City at St Mary’s.

The visit was organised by the Saints Foundation, the charitable leg of of the club.

Players and staff went into the children’s outpatient department, Teenage Cancer Trust unit and the elderly care units, chatting with patients, posing for selfies – even with those in rival colours, and handing out gifts.

Meeting children, babies and elderly patients alike, players and staff went down to the hospital to put smiles on faces.

As part of an annual visit, Maya Yoshida, Ryan Bertrand and Manolo Gabbiadini joined other first team stars, who face Manchester City at St Mary’s in the Premier League tomorrow.

Paying a visit to the wards, handing out signed cards and posing for photos were how the Saints players spent one afternoon in the visit organised by the Saints Foundation.

The charitable leg of Southampton FC, the trip was aimed at meeting and speaking with as many patients as possible.

Split into three groups, players and staff went into the children’s outpatient department, teenage cancer trust unit and the elderly care units.

The club was hoping to give something back to the community and spend time with those going through difficulty and put some smiles on the faces of patients, with players happy to pose for photos with those in rival colours.