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Southampton: Charlie Austin has ‘gut feeling’ Saints will stay up

By Chris Hughes

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 23: Charlie Austin of Southampton celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Southampton and Huddersfield Town at St Mary's Stadium on December 23, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 23: Charlie Austin of Southampton celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Southampton and Huddersfield Town at St Mary's Stadium on December 23, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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Southampton forward Charlie Austin is confident his side will stay up, despite having just 26 points after 27 games.

It means that the Saints aren’t on course to reach the cliched 40-point mark – seen as the guaranteed safety buffer for Premier League survival.

In order to get the 14 points required Mauricio Pellegrino’s side would realistically have to win at least three of their last 11 games, having won just five of their first 27.

Despite this, Southampton forward Charlie Austin is confident that his side will stay up, with the Saints just a point away from Huddersfield in 17th.

"“My gut says we’ve got a good enough squad to stay in the Premier League but I’m under no illusions that in the Premier League you’re given nothing. We need to perform now.”"

The Saints have once again struggled for goals since the English forward was injured, with Austin admitting that despite training, he is still over a month away from first team football.

Related Story: Saints 0-2 Liverpool: Three key players

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 11: General view outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Southampton and Liverpool at St Mary’s Stadium on February 11, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 11: General view outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Southampton and Liverpool at St Mary’s Stadium on February 11, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

The 28-year-old scored five in seven games before being both suspended and injured in the draw with Huddersfield, meaning he has been out since just before Christmas – his return could be too little, too late however.

In their next five league games, Southampton face Burnley, Stoke City, Newcastle United, Swansea and West Ham – this run is where many supporters believe the Saints’ fate will be decided, as following this Pellegrino’s side face Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City in six games.

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"“We don’t want to go to the last day of the season against Manchester City, so hopefully we can get the points we need.” – Austin"

Whilst it may prove a blessing or a curse, the Saints also have to deal with an FA Cup run with a game against West Brom in the fifth round coming this weekend.

The Baggies are the only side to have lost to the Saints twice this campaign, meaning Southampton should go into the game confident of a result.

Assuming the Saints reach the quarter-finals, then they would face whichever opposition they draw right around the middle of the aforementioned five-game stretch – if anything, it could postpone the Swansea game on the 17th March to midweek.

Therefore, if the Saints can all-but secure safety within the next month or so, then the club should be able to shift all priority onto the cup, which would do great things for the morale of both the players and the fanbase.

For now though, the supporters will be hoping that Austin’s gut instinct is correct, with the Saints still very much in a relegation scrap.

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