Ralph Hasenhuttl insists top-half finish would be crucial for Saints’ future

Ralph Hasenhuttl believes securing a top-half Premier League finish could be crucial to Southampton’s summer recruitment plans and his players’ international aspirations.

Eleventh-placed Saints return to action at Leeds on Saturday sitting just a point off ninth position but on the back of three successive top-flight defeats.

Hasenhuttl feels having three players – Fraser Forster, Kyle Walker-Peters and James Ward-Prowse – on England duty during the past fortnight epitomises the club’s progress this season.

Yet the Austrian is eager to ensure the recent dip in form does not become a prolonged slump as he bids to prevent a strong campaign fizzling out in the final nine fixtures.

Asked how he can stop that happening, the Saints boss replied: “In the way that we try to focus on these nine games that they are for us very crucial for our future because I think it makes a big difference if you end up in a top-10 position leading to our transfer window in the summer.

“In this position, I think it gives you more opportunities as a club and for the players also to put themselves in the window for international caps.”

With the Qatar World Cup on the horizon, Southampton’s England contingent will be keen to keep impressing national team boss Gareth Southgate.

Right-back Walker-Peters won his first two caps in wins over Switzerland and Ivory Coast, while Saints captain Ward-Prowse started the latter of those two games and goalkeeper Forster was an unused substitute in both.

Southampton last had a trio of players in the Three Lions set-up in 2014 when Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert travelled to the World Cup in Brazil.

“It’s not a coincidence that it was the first time I think in the history of Southampton Football Club