Saints may be basking in the glory of arguably their finest result since returning to the Premier League but Nigel Adkins is still likely to have field questions over his future.

That’s because reports in Spain have linked former Argentinean international defender and Espanyol manager, Mauricio Pochettinho, with the Saints job, even though there is still a successful manager in the hot seat.

The rumours have surfaced at a bizarre time with Saints, fresh from a 2-2 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, riding high on the back of a run of form that has seen them beaten just twice in 12 Premier League games to pull clear of the drop zone.

It is Adkins who has overseen that massive upturn in form, just as he oversaw two back-to-back promotions to get Saints back into the top flight.