Every word Martin said on Southampton fitness and Hull City

How are Flynn and Che doing?

RM: Che is back tomorrow. Flynn, we have a decision to make. He could be back tomorrow and then maybe it could mean Saturday becomes a bit more problematic, so we’ll make that decision in the next 24 hours.

It's nice to have Ché back and if we have Flynn back as well that will be nice, but he's very, very close. Breezy as well, very, very close, so the squad is looking really, really strong and in a good place.

Have you had a chance to give yourself a mental break after the weekend?

RM: I enjoyed the performance so much. I enjoyed the result. I enjoyed the feeling and the energy of the team. I enjoyed the training the next day and how the guys were because it took incredible courage to perform how they did against a team who have been so good at home.

For the players to do that after the disappointment of Tuesday was immense. I was excited about that game because I felt like I missed too big of a chance to drill some things home.

We had a really important chat as a coaching staff. What was important for Friday and the lads delivered that. I was really proud. I had some time with my kids over the weekend, but then your mind is on this game.

It is relentless. That’s the job - the player’s job is to recover. We need to maintain our energy to give them enough energy to ensure we nail the things that we want to. I thought the players handled the changes we made on Friday brilliantly. I was really grateful for that. Tomorrow is a different test.

There will be a few other things we have looked at and worked on. We need it to be the game we want it to be. 

How pleased are you with the improvement in Charles and Smallbone from Tuesday to Friday?

RM: All we can ever ask of players is to try and learn with them from the previous game. We didn't have much time to practice between the Bristol City game and the West Brom. But we stressed some really key points on the training ground and in the video room. They are two young men with big responsibilities on the ball.

They have both been great. The growth in Shea from Tuesday to Friday and the disappointment he had at coming off at half-time was amazing. That will be great for him and he will be great for us in the long term. Will was playing in a different role. I have a lot of admiration for him and how hard he works. 

We showed him a few clips from Tuesday night because it's not a role he is really used to. He understands what we want and then goes and carries it out. He is a brilliant learner and a brilliant young man. The club should be proud of Will and what he is doing this season in whatever role he plays. He is growing all the time and has become such an important player for us.

People won't always realise what he does, but I think everyone here does. Hopefully, people on the outside are starting to see that now. He is a player's player. When you are in the dressing room they are always the best ones because everyone knows what they are going to get. 

Jack Stephens also came back into the team and played out of position for one of the biggest tests we could have had after Tuesday. He was immense. The courage it took from him to do that, the intensity, he has been frustrated with not playing. To come into the team and do that means we now how problems with who we pick, which is a great problem.

I do lose a bit of sleep now and then because I do care about the players, we all do, but it’s not easy to leave someone out. I said to the players this morning ‘The hardest thing at the moment is to pick the team because you could all be playing.’ I genuinely think that. They have all contributed so much, to leave players out is the hardest part. I hope they understand and respect that it is always to get the best result out of that game.

Most of them will end up on the pitch at some point. We use a lot of subs for that reason because we trust them so much. They are not going to like the decision or not playing. So far they have respected it and they really support their teammates. We are going to need that from now until the end of the season.

What do you expect from Hull?

RM: They have recruited really well. They are very much growing and trying to be the team that they want to be. They don’t change their approach hugely for every game, they are trying to keep building their style and identity. Liam (Rosenior) has done a really great job. The club have put themselves on a good footing with the way they have recruited. When you have a clear way of doing things that helps you recruit.

They are a good team. They caused us some problems, particularly in the first half, during the away game. We have watched them improve since then. They have added quality to their squad. We know what to expect. They will watch us and feel the same because we are two teams that I don’t think will change for anyone. It is going to be a really interesting game and a different game to West Brom and Bristol City. We are looking forward to it being at home.

The energy at the stadium is amazing. I was speaking to my uncle about that this morning. He said the difference between when he first came to now, he loves it. The club are going to get fed up with me because of the amount of people who want tickets and enjoy feeling that energy. We enjoy being there. We have to ensure we keep feeling that. We need to be horrible to play against first and foremost.

On Friday, we ran, we were aggressive. Against Bristol City, we waited for too long. We can’t afford to make that mistake again this weekend.

Four of the next five games are at home - you can make a real imprint on the complexion of the season

RM: To get promoted we need to be good away and at home, which I think we have been for a long time. But, the energy and the form we have had at home - everyone turns up there now looking forward to it. I hope people come to support their team looking forward to it. When you put the team on the pitch and the supporters are so behind them that is so powerful. It makes it difficult for any opposition team to come and play against. 

We have to keep trying to maintain that. We need to keep winning by being the team that runs the most, and wants to fight more - I don’t think I can stress that enough, especially after the loss to Bristol City.

To have the courage to play how they do, that takes so much. It has become easier as the season has gone on because the fans are seeing and understanding what they are doing. On the whole, everyone has stuck with that and hopefully, we can continue to grow that.

You’ve got to win on Tuesday to be the one who celebrates with the fans at the end

RM: That is not at the forefront of my mind. I had to watch that back in the studio with Sky the other night and I didn’t enjoy it one bit. The more times we are doing that together it means the team have been successful.

I hope to do that many, many more times here and away. It is always an appreciation of the support we get. I will never take that for granted. I will always be grateful for that. It’s not about me or Liam. It is about the two teams who go over the white line. We will see what happens after the game.