MARK Hughes is hopeful that Saints will be at full capacity when they resume action after the international break.

Saints put a sluggish start to the campaign behind them with victories over Brighton and Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup and Premier League respectively just before the enforced fortnight off.

With players due to start returning to Staplewood, Hughes will be able to gather his men together ready for the next run of fixtures, which starts with a home top flight clash with Brighton on Monday.

It hasn’t been the easiest of beginnings for Saints with players having come back from their summer breaks at different times due to the World Cup, but with everybody fit and ready and confidence rising, Hughes is optimistic his team will be ready to fire.

“We are hopeful of that,” he said.

“I think since the Everton game where we didn’t quite understand the intensity for whatever reason of how we need to start games but we have addressed that, we’ve talked about that and having a different focus leading into games and starting games.

“It was evident against Leicester, at Brighton and Crystal Palace.

“We have set a standard now that we can’t slip below.

“I would like to think as the season progresses we will keep on progressing and enhancing those levels we are hitting at the moment.”

A lot will of course depend on Danny Ings, who has much of the goalscoring load on his shoulders.

He has bagged two goals in his first four games for the club and has added a lot to Saints.

“He’s a talented player in his own right in terms of his link play and intelligence at the top end of the pitch but he’s also a goalscorer as well,” reflected Hughes.

“He is usually Jonny on the spot if things drop in the box and usually he dispatches a high percentage of chances from games.

“We knew what we were getting and we need Danny, and he needs, to get a clear run of injuries for the next couple of years and everybody will see him.

“I think everybody knows anyway and they will see what a good player he is.”

Hughes has also struck upon a midfield pairing that has worked with Mario Lemina and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg putting in another powerful performance together at Palace last time out.

“I thought Pierre and Mario Lemina in the centre of the park were very dominant and showed a lot of desire to get around the pitch,” said Hughes.

“When they are playing like that and with that intensity it’s very difficult for teams to get a real foothold in the game so I was pleased with the level they produced.”