SPIRIT and effort are not problems in the Saints camp, according to Harry Redknapp.

After last week's drubbing at Tottenham, Redknapp didn't hold back in his assessment of his team's performance.

But he is keen to stress it is the quality of the squad and NOT their commitment that he has questioned.

He said: "I never felt they lacked spirit and they never lacked any effort.

"I just felt we didn't play well last week and maybe we had a lot of players that were just a little bit short of where we want to be.

"As a group of lads they're fantastic and you couldn't get a better bunch of fellas.

"They come in and work their socks off every day and want to do well but maybe we just need to bring a little more quality in.

"We've got a few top players here in my opinion but we need a couple more in the team - that's the only way forward."

He added: "They're capable. I'm not saying they can't win games. I said if we went down it's not easy to get back up - look at West Ham and Sunderland. Getting out of the First Division is very difficult.

"I believe we can stay up and I believe in the players. We just need to strengthen the squad."

Redknapp will have do without the injured pair of Jason Dodd - who came off injured at Spurs in his 399th league appearance for the club - and Graeme Le Saux for the Boxing Day clash with Charlton with the latter on the back of three straight wins.

"We didn't play well last week and they know that and now we have a big game at home to Charlton," said Redknapp. "It's a massive game. We need to get three points.

"They've done excellently, Charlton. Alan's a good friend of mine and he's done ever so well to build up what he has at that football club over the last few years. They're strong and seventh on a great run, so it won't be easy. But it is a home game and we've got to get a result."

Redknapp added: "We've got three games before we get to the transfer window so it's going to be important to pick up some points before we get there.

"All the teams down the bottom are going to struggle to get to 38 points. We're sitting here with 13 points with half the season gone, so it's not an easy total to reach.

"It's hard to say what it will take to stay up, you just never know. We need to get a run of results and pick up."

Redknapp also admits he learnt a lot from last week's 5-1 defeat at Spurs.

"The game told me a lot about some of the players," he said. "I made up my mind on some of the players who are going to be ones I want to take on and some that are maybe not going to be. It's just finding out about people as quickly as I can."

James Beattie is likely to remain on the bench on Sunday as Redknapp keeps faith with captain Kevin Phillips and in-form Peter Crouch up front.

In defence Andreas Jakobsson could be recalled to partner Claus Lundekvam with Paul Telfer reverting to right-back.

Fabrice Fernandes could come in on the right of midfield and, with Rory Delap recalled, Anders Svensson could move to the left of midfield.

Charlton have been hit by a flu bug but are expecting a clean bill of health by Boxing Day. Defender Mark Fish has suffered a slight back strain while Chris Perry (groin), Jonatan Johansson and Kevin Lisbie (both hamstring) all remain sidelined.