ROMAIN Perraud admits Saints “have to change some things” when they go into the next Premier League campaign.

The St Mary’s side slumped from ninth to a second-consecutive 15th-placed finish in the top-flight, with just one win in the final 12 matches.

It will definitely be a new look dugout that guides the Saints squad, with 38-year-old Ruben Selles appointed as manager Ralph Hasenhuttl’s new assistant.

He is the first appointment since the departures of first-team coaches Craig Fleming, Dave Watson and Kelvin Davis.

There is also likely to be change on the pitch for Saints, with the club targeting players in a number of positions this summer – starting with the imminent signing of goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.

But 24-year-old Perraud, who made 20 Premier League appearances in his debut season at Saints and could start the new season with Tino Livramento out injured, admits something different has to come from the players.

"I think for next season, we have to change some things,” the Frenchman said. “When we play at home, we feel a big confidence and big support from our fans.

“When we play away we have to be more aggressive, more confident and more united as a team.”

Saints won just three matches on the road across the entire 2021-22 league season – a 1-0 win at Watford, and huge 3-2 victories at West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur.

Their final away games of the campaign ended in a misery with a hammering by both Brentford and Leicester City, who Saints had been tussling in the mid-table throughout.

Perraud continued: “When you play away in a tough game, like in Burnley (2-0 defeat to the relegated side) or wherever, it is not easy, we have to build on this shape, definitely.”

Perraud is currently recovering from a fracture injury picked up ahead of the final week of the campaign, but should be able to return for Saints’ pre-season schedule.

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