MIDFIELDER Oriol Romeu insisted he was “ready and fresh” to go again for Saints following the international break and added: “The sooner we react, the better it will be.”

The St Mary’s side went into the halt in fixtures throughout March, off the back of four defeats in all competitions.

After an unbeaten February, Saints suffered losses against Aston Villa, Newcastle, Watford and Manchester City in their most recent fixtures.

But Romeu, along with the rest of the squad not on international duty, was given some time off ahead of the final nine games of the season.

Asked how important it was to recharge ahead of the business end of the campaign, the Spanish star told the Daily Echo: “It was needed probably, I would say.

“We were coming from four defeats. I think against City we competed quite well although the result didn’t show that – but it was a good game.

“There are nine games left now. We want to finish in a good way – nothing less than what we did before these four games.

“We were playing really good football, we were competing very well against any team and that’s where we want to get back at.”

Ralph Hasenhuttl has stressed his desire for a top-10 finish this season. Saints are currently 11th, a solitary point behind Leicester City.

They face relegation-threatened Leeds United in their next test at Elland Road on Saturday.

Quizzed on how much there was still to play for regarding the top 10, Romeu said: “That’s a challenge that we have and think we can achieve.

“As a team, the players we have, the quality we’ve got – we could reach that level, although it won’t be easy.

“We have to win a few games from the ones we have left but that’s our challenge and that’s what we are aiming at.

“The last three defeats don’t help but we are still there, we have still got options and now that gap is getting shorter. The sooner we react the better it will be.”

Romeu himself managed to return to his homeland during the brief pause in club games, something he believes was extremely valuable.

“We had some time off. That was very helpful. I had the chance to go back home and see the family – the same as the other players,” said the former Barcelona youngster.

“That, mentally, is refreshing and really helpful. Now - ready and fresh to go again.

“It’s always lovely. Always good to go back home, spend some time, play some other sports or do some other things away from football. I think it’s really good for everyone.”