HAVING been at both clubs in my career, a Saints versus Owls league fixture would always have been a top-flight game.

Unfortunately, both clubs are now out of the Premier League. Anybody who has been out of touch for a while would still automatically recognise the size of both clubs when they see the game.

Sheffield Wednesday, of course, got promotion from League One last year and their supporters will have helped with big turn-outs at Hillsborough on the way.

I’m sure they will be quietly hoping to go up two years in succession. For Saints and the club itself, there’s no point in feeling sorry for themselves.

They need to roll their sleeves up and get on with it – I am writing this before the game but I am hoping we saw that last night.

The staff will have undoubtedly got into the players and let them know how important a good result and performance will have been, because they will have to answer to the home crowd against Norwich next weekend.

A good result last night will have undoubtedly made the atmosphere supportive and I hope that carries on throughout the season. It will be an interesting year.

Clubs such as Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich will have the same attitude as to wanting top-flight football, or having been used to it in their history, as opposed to the likes of Plymouth who will be more than happy to have gotten into the Championship this time.

I would like to say good luck to the manager and his players, and hopefully next week’s column will be a congratulations for last night and Tuesday’s cup match at Gillingham, rather than the opposite.

Leicester City will be facing a similar summer to Saints after their relegation from the Premier League and manager change.

Enzo Maresca will be relying on the likes of Jamie Vardy, who is a living legend in the English game and particularly at Leicester.

He will turn 37 years old during the season but when you look at his record, he’s scored 136 goals in the top-flight and won the Premier League and FA Cup for the Foxes.

Vardy has played in the Champions League for Leicester and World Cup for England – he is unbelievably experienced and I’m sure he is helping the manager and staff to get the players in the right frame of mind.

It’s that sort of player that, as manager, I certainly would have had a private talk with when everyone returned back for pre-season training.

I would have been making sure that the senior player has got the same ambition as myself and, otherwise, you would have to let them go.

If you realise he is on the same page as yourself, he will be of great importance in that Monday to Friday dressing room – which I’ve mentioned many times before.

The dressing room is even more important when you’re looking for promotion than it is when you’re already up there in the top-flight.

Now that the clubs are back in action, and not just in pre-season fitness sessions abroad or in England, it will give the manager and staff the awareness of who will be with them when the battle starts.

There has been enough time since the end of last season for any transfers which could have happened to take place, but the window still rumbles on for four more weeks.

This is where, for instance, Saints and Leicester City will be relying on their senior players such as James Ward-Prowse and Vardy – who are experienced but will want to get back into the top-flight as soon as possible.

Sometimes you also need youth to bring that enthusiasm and hunger. I’ve been informed that, in a few places across the training ground, reminders of the under-21s title-winning season last year still sit pride and place.

All of the experienced seniors will have walked past the trophy itself or the banners and hopefully see the club has not all been about relegation. Celebrating some more success at the end of this season is the aim.

On the manager’s behalf, although I have never met him, I wish Russell Martin well and urge supporters to get behind him and the team – as I’m sure you will have all done last night.