Belief.

It is so vital in sport, so precious.

And, yet, it is also so elusive.

It comes and goes in such fleeting moments.

When you have it, you feel you can take on anybody, do anything. No fear.

When you don’t it can become paralysing, every yard run feels like a mile, every setback like the end of the road rather than a mere bump along the way.

Saints have gone from having all but no belief to possessing it by the bucketload.

That doesn’t just go for the first team either.

The club, the academy, the staff, the media, and, vitally, the fans.

Given the time of the year it seems appropriate to think that Ralph Hasenhuttl has arrived like Santa on his sleigh and sprinkled a bag load of it all over St Mary’s, and nobody has been immune from its spell.

Before he arrived all the stats were grim. One win all season, no victories against the big six in 30 attempts, a meagre goals for column and individuals struggling too.

Now we talk of victories over Arsenal, two wins on the bounce, players scoring their first goal of the season and, in Michael Obafemi’s case, first ever.

Each week has seen another new youngster introduced amongst the subs while, tellingly, Hasenhuttl hasn’t been afraid to leave out established names.

Some of those with big reputations cannot even make the matchday 18 any longer.

There is no excuse culture, just one of togetherness and hard work.

Hasenhuttl’s ‘my way or the highway’ message has got through and those that really want it, those that want to graft for results, for the shirt and for the club, are getting their rewards.

And what a joy it is to watch.

These are early days and Hasenhuttl hasn’t had a chance to transition the team to the kind of formation he will eventually want, let alone get all the intricacies of a high pressing style.

Even so, watching a Saints team so vibrant, alive with that belief, amazingly restored so quickly, is remarkable given the misery of recent times.

Credit here to Ralph Krueger for this appointment.

One of the chief reasons for cautioning against making a change despite poor results under Mark Hughes was a lack of faith that he would deliver a suitable replacement.

But it seems he has done it.

Of course, everyone will say you must not get carried away, but gut instinct tells you a lot.

You could see what Mauricio Pochettino had instantly. You could see what Ronald Koeman had instantly. And Ralph Hasenhuttl gives you that same sensation.

It seemed so improbable just a few short weeks ago, but it is going to be a Merry Christmas for Saints fans. They can believe again.