PAUL STURROCK has issued a stark message to his midfielders: Score goals or don't play.

The Saints boss wants to address what has probably been the biggest weakness for the club in recent seasons.

And he couldn't be clearer about a major selection criteria for one of the most competitive areas of the team.

"The midfielders realise that to play in a Southampton team they are going to have to score goals," he said.

"We have been relying too long on the front players scoring goals and it is important that we start sharing the load."

Only five goals were scored by recognised midfielders during the whole of 2003/04 with young Leandre Griffit bagging two of them.

In 2002/03 Fabrice Fernandes was the top-scoring midfielder with just four from 41 starts plus three as sub.

And in 2001/02 Anders Svensson scored six times - with Chris Marsden the next highest scorer with three.

Sturrock, meanwhile, was pleased to see his players respond in Saturday's 8-0 win over Swedish minnows Asebro.

"I'm delighted for the boy Prutton to score," he said.

"He has had a few shots and I'm very pleased and he is appreciating that goals are what the team is all about.

"The players got themselves into good positions and we scored some goals."

Full-backs Graeme Le Saux and Jason Dodd also got on the scoresheet.

Both their goals came from free-kicks, with Dodd's sumptuous opener the pick.

"It was a typical goal for Doddsy," said Sturrock. "He has scored that type of goal all the time."

Although pleased to see new signing Peter Crouch score his first goals in a Southampton shirt, Sturrock stressed that the £2m man still has plenty of room for improvement.

"There are lots of things Peter will have to add to his game and we will be working hard on the training ground," he said.

"He can bring more to the show and people forget he is only 23 and is still learning."

Marian Pahars and Anders Svensson both made brief appearances on Saturday, with the Latvian scoring within a minute of coming on.

Both played in Euro 2004 and Sturrock plans to introduce them gradually to the action.

"I chatted with Marian and Anders," he said.

"I realise that when people train right through the closed season it can affect them mentally as the season goes on.

"I think it is very important that we go softly, softly with them, so it will be late on in pre-season that they start getting involved."

The Saints boss added that he was particularly satisfied with the efficient way his players went about dismantling what was clearly inferior opposition.

"You can only play the standard of the opposition in front of you," he said.

"The boys were very professional in their approach and it was a very hot day as well.

"They worked very hard."