Russell Martin knows he has his work cut out to keep Southampton in the Premier League this season following promotion.
Southampton have made eight first-team signings already this summer to help with that task, but Russell Martin knows more quality is needed in attack.
As things stand, the only attacker that has arrived at Southampton this summer is Ben Brereton Diaz after the forward completed a £7 million move from Villarreal.
The defence has been addressed, whilst Flynn Downes and Adam Lallana have signed in midfield; although Lallana did not feature once in pre-season due to injury.
The fact that all three newly-promoted sides in the top flight last season went straight back down shows just how hard it is to make the step up to the Premier League and it is difficult to argue against Southampton needing more help from new arrivals to boost their chances.
Jeff Stelling tips Southampton for Premier League survival
There won’t be a shortage of football pundits and fans predicting Southampton to be relegated this season, but Martin will only use this as fuel to motivate his players.
The Saints boss is a principled manager and he will believe vehemently that he is capable of keeping the club in the Premier League using his possession-based brand of football.
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For all the doubters, one person who thinks Southampton will beat the drop this season is former Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling.
Stelling was making his Premier League predictions alongside Ally McCoist on talkSPORT’s Youtube channel where he tipped the Saints to be his “overachiever” this season.
Stelling said: “My overachiever I think will finish fourth-bottom – Southampton.
“We know which way they are going to play. They have done well.
“They have got Flynn Downes back at the club. They brought in Adam Lallana for experience. I like Ben Brereton Diaz as well. I think Ben Brereton Diaz will get you goals.
“And they have got a bit of experience with Charlie Taylor who knows what it is like to be in a dogfight down at the bottom of the Premier League. They brought him in as well.
“I just think they might have enough about them.”
Premier League survival the only goal for Southampton this season
It will be refreshing for Southampton fans to hear a pundit back their club for safety this season, with many making sweeping generalisations about Martin’s style of play.
Comparisons to Burnley are rife, with the fact the Turf Moor club made huge changes to the side that actually got them promoted ignored.
Martin has established a more settled environment, with only two of the players who started in the last friendly of pre-season against Getafe new arrivals this summer.
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Ultimately, Stelling is right: Southampton finishing outside of the bottom three will be viewed as overachieving by many.
That is no slight on the Saints either, as the first season for any club in the Premier League is only about one thing and that is securing a second campaign in the division.