SAINTS have announced their first pre-season friendly at St Mary's which will be against German side 1.FC Köln.

The game will be played on Saturday, 3 August [3 pm] to help the south coast club bring their pre-season preparations to a close.

1.FC Köln were promoted back into the Bundesliga last season, having been relegated the year prior to that.

Saints are yet to come up against the German outfit, but it's a team manager Ralph Hasenhuttl knows well.

Hasenhuttl spent two years with the club during his playing career, scoring three goals in 41 appearances.

It is the first game to be announced at St Mary's and comes almost a month after Saints announced their plans for pre-season.

Their preparations for next season will see split their time between Staplewood, Austria, Dublin and Macau.

During their time in Austria, Hasenhuttl's team have a friendly organised against Austrian Bundesliga side, SCR Altach, on Sunday, 14 July.

They will then return to Staplewood for another week, before heading to their next destination.

A selection of players, along with Hasenhuttl, will jet off to Macau, where they will only play one match.

Those picked are going to take part in a friendly with Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F on Tuesday, 23 July.

However, those who don't make the plane for the Asia trip will head off to Dublin for a week's training.

There aren't expected to be any friendlies during their time in Ireland, as it's solely focused on fitness.

Once that week is over the entire squad will return home and begin their final preparations for the start of the Premier League season which begins on Saturday, 10 August.

The fixtures for the new campaign are going to be released on Thursday, 13 June, which is before the players return for pre-season.

Tickets for the game against Saints and 1.FC Köln are yet to be released, with the club announcing the details in due course.