DAVE JONES has admitted it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep all his Saints players happy even though the team are enjoying their best start for a decade.

John Beresford has been training with the reserves since a frank exchange of views over being left on the bench against Leeds.

And Patrick Colleter, currently out injured, is thought to have been unhappy at being named as substitute at Everton.

But that increased competition has helped lift Southampton to tenth in the Premiership and they still have several established top stars to come back into the reckoning following injury.

That will only add to the selection problems for Jones who would much prefer to have too many options than not enough as was the case a year ago.

He said: "I don't see it as a headache. I'm quite happy to let the players fight it out among themselves and I enjoy the arguments they give me.

"I would not expect any player to be happy to be left out but at the end of the day I still have to pick 11. But I know that if the ones with the shirt are not doing it then I have others ready to come in.

"It is a stark contrast to this time last year when we had to play too many kids. But now our reserve side is full of good young players who can take time to learn their trade.

"The hardest thing right now is to keep the squad happy. We are not an Arsenal or a Manchester United where players are used to a squad system and accept rotation.

"A lot of players think that if they are at Southampton they should be playing first-team football but the shirt still has to be earned and it is not easy to satisfy every-one.

"It is my job to keep them happy. I do that all week but then as soon as I pick the team I have another set of disappointed players.

"Those who want to stay will stay and those who don't will go. One thing about this club is that the morale and spirit are spot-on and that is something you can't buy."

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