Saints boss George Burley's exclusive Daily Echo column appears in today's newspaper.

In it, Burley likens his squad to Premiership champions Chelsea in being affected by injuries.

Here is what George has to say ...

Chelsea's recent problems have shown all squads can be affected by injuries, as we have.

Unfortunately you get injuries and you can't always play your best players, as Chelsea have found.

Then you rely on your squad and you've to got to accept that.

But rather than worry about it, you've got to work with the squad available to you and just accept that you will miss key players.

We've had our fair share of long term injuries.

Claus was out at the start of the season and is out against now while Darren Powell and Michael Svensson haven't played this season.

Then there is Djamel Belamdi who is very much a key player as far as a playmaker with quality on the ball is concerned.

He's only played two or three games this season.

Inigo Idiakez has pulled his thigh muscle three times now.

Andrew Surman is out and now Nathan Dyer could be out for a long time as well.

You are weakened as a squad and it's no different for us than it is for Chelsea, but it's about having a squad to work with.

Jose Mourinho does it the right way.

He doesn't keep a huge squad but makes sure he has quality.

If you have too big a squad, it is difficult to manage.

You've got to be lucky with injuries and of course you're going to miss John Terry.

I know the feeling because we've been very unfortunate with injuries.

For the full George Burley column, don't miss today's Daily Echo