RALPH Hasenhuttl has challenged Alex McCarthy to maintain the consistency he showed against Newcastle last Saturday.

The goalkeeper was Saints’ best player, making a stunning triple save before denying Matt Ritchie from the penalty spot.

And Hasenhuttl wants to see this level of performance week in, week out, for the remainder of the Premier League season.

Saints’ manager said: “I think he had some very good games this season but also, like everyone else in the team, some games where he wasn’t very consistent.

“We all have to be more consistent.

“But for a goalkeeper, he has a very good body and a lot of talent for getting more consistent.

“That’s what he has to work on.

“After the penalty he had a lot of self-confidence and, for the goal, he had no chance to save it, but the rest was perfect.”

Due to McCarthy’s standout performance, it led to questions being asked whether he can play his way back into the England squad.

Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate handed the former Reading man his international debut against the USA back in November 2018. However, that has been his one and only game in an England shirt.

Questioned whether he thinks McCarthy can return to the Three Lions,

Hasenhuttl said: “When he plays every week like this, yes.”