Hasenhüttl: New-look squad becoming a unit

Last season Saints laid strong foundations over the first six months of the campaign built on an impressive home record, including a 12-match unbeaten run at St Mary’s in all competitions.

But with only three league wins on the road, Hasenhüttl is aware of the need to increase that tally, and hopes the gradual integration of Saints’ six summer signings will help their prospects.

“We had seasons where we have been horrible at home and unbelievably good away,” he said.

“Last season was the opposite, with a long unbeaten run at home and then away we were struggling, with two or three good games, but this is not enough.

“We know we need to do more there. We must show our fans from the first moment that we are willing to show a different face.

“I could see during the week we are definitely on the way to get committed as a team, as a group.

“New players are coming in, and with every session and every day we are sitting together, working together, this becomes a unit and this is good.”

Saints’ busy summer is in stark contrast to Leicester’s, whose only signing is goalkeeper Alex Smithies, but Hasenhüttl is respectful of the Foxes’ achievements over recent seasons.

“We have a little bit of a different squad now. They have not signed one player so far, but they are still a team that has played a lot of competitive games, also in international football, a side that has played for a top 10 ranking the last years all the time,” he added.

“You see the quality they have in every position. It’s still a ground where we like to go because we’ve had some good games there.”