SAINTS defender Tino Livramento thinks his body might be the strongest it has been after returning from an ACL injury over a year later.

The 20 year old made substitute appearances in the club’s two final Premier League games having been unable to feature since April last year.

Livramento made 23 Premier League appearances before a meniscus injury and eventual ACL tear left him sidelined.

The former Chelsea man was one of the side’s top performers under Ralph Hasenhuttl and wants to ensure their faith in him has been repaid next season.

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Speaking to the club website, Livramento said: “There’s no way Southampton should be in the Championship.

Daily Echo: Tino Livramento is fit and available to play again having made his return at Brighton

“The fans don’t deserve to be supporting a club that’s in the Championship, but that’s the one thing that will never leave – the fans that support the club.

“We’re going to need them more than ever next season because the Championship is not a forgiving league. You play so many games.”

He added: “The club’s been amazing with me, with everything they’ve done, and it’s not been a great season to not be a part of.

“I would’ve loved to be out there with the team, suffering every week, but at least I’d be out there and be able to have my opinion on what we should do."

Assessing his body after a year of intense rehabilitation and individual sessions in the treatment room, Livramento feels he has reached the light at the end of the tunnel.

“I’ve had two surgeries, been out for over a year and now I feel like I’m getting to the point that my body’s in the best shape it has been," Livramento revealed.

“That was the biggest setback I’ve had. If anything, it helped me. The extra two and a half months, taking it to a year, just gave me that extra security in my head, knowing that, ­‘okay, it’s been a year. It’s in a good place, I know it’s strong.”