Saints U23’s boss Radhi Jaidi has called on his side to be mentally strong ahead of their Premier League 2 match with Fulham tonight.

Jaidi’s youngsters are currently top of the table, but a defeat to Fulham would open the door for Reading and Wolves to take their position.

And ahead of this evening’s game, Jaidi has backed his U23’s to deal with the pressure.

The former Saints defender told the Southampton FC website: "The preparation is always key for me.

"The small details are so important at this level, it isn't always about the technical and tactical, it can include reactions and mindset. 

"Psychology at this age is very important; being resilient and having a strong character are also things we want to see. 

"It's tight at the top of the league. This is a very competitive league. We're top, and hopefully, we stay there, that's got to be our aim. I've told the boys; consistency in everything we do will keep us there.

"There's a lot of motivation and desire around the squad, given the position we're in. The spirit is excellent.

"They have the will to make things happen and they want to achieve something this season. We've had successes, but it's not enough yet, there's still six games to go in PL2."