SAINTS manager Russell Martin has outlined the importance of being relaxed during hectic periods of games in the Championship.

Southampton are gearing up for another three-game week, starting with Watford away on Saturday before travelling to Coventry City in midweek and hosting Blackburn Rovers next weekend at St Mary's.

The latest busy week starts just seven days after Saints completed their last three-game week, which saw them earn seven points and extend their unbeaten run to 11 games.

Asked by the Daily Echo how players and coaches can switch off when fixtures are coming thick and fast, Martin said:  “When we work it’s obviously very demanding.

"But when we are not (working) we try to be relaxed around the players. Having played fairly recently myself and Gilly understand how they feel mentally and physically.

“That’s why we have a lot of individual meetings as well as group and unit meetings. We try to understand them as people because they will always be people first."

Squad depth and rotation are always key when players only have a few days to recover before they step back onto the field.

Southampton used 17 different players across their last three games. Only goalkeepers Alex McCarthy and Joe Lumley, youngsters Sam Amo-Ameyaw and Tyler Dibling and defender Mason Holgate remained unused.

Daily Echo: Kamaldeen was forced off in the first half against Bristol City

However, their attacking depth has been reduced following injuries to Kamaldeen Sulemana and Ross Stewart, which will keep the pair out until the new year.

Speaking to the Echo earlier this season, Kyle Walker-Peters outlined how players have different methods to aid their recovery once they leave the training ground.

"I like to take lots of naps," revealed Walker-Peters, who is the only outfield player to play every minute for Southampton this season.

READ MORE: Walker-Peters insists Southampton are confident after improved results

"Some players like to use recovery pumps on their legs, others like to have ice baths at home. It all comes down to the individual. Everyone is different."

“We do as much as we can," Martin added. "We have a brilliant new recovery lounge that the guys have put together. 

Daily Echo:

“It’s really top. We try to utilise everything that we can to help the players physically and with switching off."

Martin also pointed out that players are spending more time together at Staplewood following training, something he believes is important to help players take a break from the pressures of playing football.

“The players spend a lot more time together now. It might sound small and trivial but it’s not. The fact they don’t just go home after dinner and they enjoy spending time together is great.

“The culture we are building is so important. When I look back to when we started that is the thing that has probably grown the most."