STEVE WIGLEY is in confident mood as he enters perhaps the defining month in Saints' season.

The club has been buoyed by the 2-2 draw at champions Arsenal last Saturday and received a major boost this week by the return of a number of senior players.

Jason Dodd, James Beattie, Graeme Le Saux, Peter Crouch and Matthew Oakley are back training with the first-team, while Kevin Phillips, Jelle van Damme, Yoann Folly and Leandre Griffit are all fit to face West Brom tomorrow at St Mary's.

That match begins what is a crunch November for Saints with Premiership fixtures against Pompey, Norwich and Crystal Palace looming as well as the opportunity to make the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup on Tuesday night at Watford.

"I've had a good feeling about the lads in training and I'm just looking forward to transferring that to a good performance tomorrow," said head coach Wigley.

"To have more of the senior players on the training ground was a nice feeling for everybody.

"We are talking about big players with big personalities and to have them in and around the group is great.

"I'm enjoying the job and I'm going to enjoy it a lot more in the future," he added.

Wigley also yesterday received a glowing tribute from midfielder Anders Svensson, who said: "He is by far the best manager or coach I've had since I've left Sweden.

"I'm quite confident that this club has a bright future and it has a bright future with him as the manager.

"I think he's the one who can take Southampton to the next level - maybe not this year, maybe not next year but he can do it."

Saints have had a horrendous run of injuries in recent months and currently sit third from bottom of the league.