RALPH Hasenhuttl believes the impact of Ramadan was felt more by his players this year than in any previous season.

The annual Islamic month-long festival came to an end on Wednesday.

Observed by Muslims worldwide, those taking part refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours, fasting until the sun goes down. It is said to help teach self-discipline and a focus on faith, prayer and reflection.

Three members of Saints' first team - Ibrahima Diallo, Mohammed Salisu and Moussa Djenepo - were among those fasting and saw their game-time reduced during the past month.

Between April 12 and May 12, the trio made just four starts between them, generally used as second-half substitutes.

Saints' evening match against Leicester City at St Mary's last month was stopped during the first half, to allow certain players to break their fast, as sunset occurred during the contest.

And Hasenhuttl hopes he can soon have Diallo, Salisu and Djenepo back towards their peak levels.

"It was never that much a feeling of an impact for the players like this season to be honest," Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo when discussing his players observing Ramadan.

"I had the feeling that they definitely were struggling. But maybe because when the Ramadan is in June or May or April, the days are longer, you eat later, you have to stand up very early and it is a little bit easier I think when Ramadan is in November or December.

"Then it has maybe not such a big impact in the performance of the players. But it’s normal when you don’t eat the whole day and you’re not allowed to drink the whole day and you have the game at 8 o’clock in the evening, we had in the last game also a break for the Ramadan players to get them a drink, then it is normal that you cannot be on the same level like the other players.

"They eat normal, they sleep normal and have the chance to fill up their energy with all they have to do normally."

He added: "The positive thing is that Ramadan has now finished so these lads will now come back to a normal rhythm with sleeping in the night and eating in the day.

"This will bring them back to 100 per cent, this is for Ibra, Moussa and Sali. It’s important, I think."