PRIME Minister Boris Johnson has revealed that crowds could return to sports stadiums from October.

That means, subject to a run of successful pilot events, that football fans will be able to attend matches.

Johnson said: "From 1 August, we will restart indoor performance to a live audience, subject to the success of pilots, and we will also pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadia, with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn.

"From October, we intend to bring back audiences in stadia. Again, these changes must be done in a Covid-secure way, subject to the successful outcome of pilots."

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl welcomed the news, saying: "It's fantastic.

"We'd like to see them back and we can show them good performances and we'd like to celebrate again with the fans.

"It will be a big message for everybody because this is a step back to normality, even if it's only half of the crowd that is coming back or something like that, I don’t know what they decide.

"But we find that people are now sensibilised (sic) for what happens around you and there are ways to do it and if you can do it why not?!"