MARK Hughes has urged Saints not to be ‘cowed’ by their desperate situation in the Premier League, and has even asked his side to ‘enjoy’ this difficult period.

With five games remaining, Saints are five points adrift of safety in the bottom three of the top-flight and travel to Leicester tomorrow night in another crunch game.

Hughes senses real determination from the squad ahead of the Foxes trip, despite a heart-breaking 3-2 defeat to Chelsea last time out.

“The message is to enjoy the challenge. It’s not an easy situation but don’t be cowed by it, just get out there and show people what you are about,” he said.

“You have the opportunity to make a statement every time you put the shirt on.

“There is a lot of talk about fear of failure. My interpretation of that is you should not allow people the opportunity to criticise you and use that motivation to drive yourself on to bigger and better things.

“We have allowed ourselves to be criticised because of the way the season has gone but we can turn that around in these final few games and that is our intention.

“It is a challenge for everybody, you sense the club was not anticipating the season they were going to have.

“But we are where we are in the here and now and we are in a situation that needs turning around and that is what we intend to do.

“We have got a short space of time to have an impact but I have been really pleased with how the players reacted to my appointment and my staff coming in.

“I sense there is a real determination now to get things back on track in terms of our Premier League status.

“We will make it even harder for ourselves the longer this run without wins continue so that has to change soon.”

Hughes reported in his press conference that Saints have a few injury worries ahead of the King Power trip.

Mario Lemina has a problem with his back which is affecting his hamstring, while Sofiane Boufal is ill and Jack Stephens will serve the second of his three match ban after his sending off against Arsenal. 

"Apart from that, we should be okay," Hughes said. "Steven Davis is back with the group. He hasn't trained a great deal but he's trained the last couple of days.

"He will travel and, apart from that, everyone else is healthy and available."