George Burley remains confident he will have assembled a squad capable of challenging for promotion by the time Saints kick off 2007/08.

With his squad options weakened by a number of summer departures - particularly in defence - the Saints boss doesn't feel there is the required strength in depth in his current squad to launch a promotion push.

But even though the time is running out ahead of Crystal Palace's visit to St Mary's on August 11, Burley, below, feels the opposite will be the case come the big kick-off.

"At the moment we need to add to the squad, there is no doubt about that," Burley said. "We are not strong enough at the moment but I am confident that by the start of the season we will be.

"We need to strengthen the squad, we have lost a lot of good players.

"As a manager, I want the squad to get stronger and the only way to do that is by adding to it.

"We are working hard behind the scenes and hopefully we can do that soon".

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