Southampton boss Ralph Hassenhuttl is confident his team can secure a top-10 finish in the Premier League next season.

The Saints avoided relegation under the Austrian last term as they finished 16th, five points above 18th-placed Cardiff City.

Hasenhuttl’s appointment before Christmas proved to be the big difference at St Mary’s but the former RB Leipzig coach claims his work is just getting started.

He has already started revamping his squad for the new campaign and the Graz-born coach is ready to fight for a higher finish in the Premier League.

Hasenhuttl told Sport Bild: “For the first half year, we wanted to bring back the feeling of being back. I think we have managed to make people positive for the club again. Next season, we want to climb as far as we can. We can land at 10th place.

“You have to be careful. But if you succeed in inspiring people here in a sustainable way, then they [the fans] are already similar to the Leipzigers.

“Regardless of the outcome, they are very positive. That gives me a lot of strength. “I’ve found a job here that fills me up and I’m not here to run away. I want to make a name for myself in this league.”

Southampton start the new campaign on the road as they prepare to travel to Turf Moor to take on Sean Dyche’s Burnley.

The Clarets are 2.50 favourites to win, with the draw 3.30, while Southampton are priced at 2.88 to claim all three points. They will then welcome Liverpool to St Mary’s before doing battle with Brighton and Manchester United before the end of August.