SAINTS still have a lot of work to do to ensure their squad is ready for the task of surviving in the Premier League this season.

All three promoted teams were relegated back to the Championship last campaign as the financial gap between the top divisions continues to widen.

Bookmakers operate relatively safely under the assumption that the three who came up are at the biggest threat of finishing 20th, 19th and 18th.

Within the club, there are no debates about the expectations for the season - they must finish outside of the bottom three, but that is a success.

It speaks to the magnitude of the task at hand and nobody is under any illusion regarding some of the difficult afternoons that lie ahead.

Saints are not able to spend as freely as some promoted clubs in the past, despite having already made seven signings and working on Ben Brereton Diaz.

They are still paying back the almost £80million working loan - with 9.14 per cent annual interest - taken out from MSD Holdings in 2020.

Although promotion cleared the fog, they could have tipped over the edge into financial ruin following their desperate 2022/23 attempt at survival.

Saints may lack some of the top-quality individuals that they had going into their last Premier League season, in which they finished bottom and 11 points adrift.

Players such as James Ward-Prowse, Tino Livramento, Kyle Walker-Peters, Stuart Armstrong and Romeo Lavia were all tipped as capable of playing in the top 10.

They had an experienced coach in Ralph Hasenhuttl, who had kept them well-safe in previous seasons and had been given fresh enthusiasm with new coaches.

However, behind the scenes, relationships had been strained and tested after four years of brutal work under difficult financial conditions.

Experienced leaders in the dressing room wanted to leave and some did - on loan to their Premier League rivals, in some circumstances.

The late transfer of Oriol Romeu to Girona with only Ainsley Maitland-Niles as his fit replacement put the final nail in Hasenhuttl's battered coffin.

There is a different feeling at the club this time around and that is what the Daily Echo has been able to witness this week - in Girona, ironically.

Romeu was Southampton's anchor and the club have already guaranteed the return of theirs this time around with an £18million deal for Flynn Downes.

Whether you think Southampton's starting XI looks better on paper now than it did in August 2022, it is undeniably a better team.

They have kept the core of a group that grew together and smart business negotiating the initial arrival of Taylor Harwood-Bellis facilitated that.

They look out for each other; this week, sidelined captain Jack Stephens orchestrated revenge tackles on opposition players for kicks on Will Smallbone.

Within that core is a British base of honest, hard workers - and the final decisions on all new signings are made based on attitude.

Yukinari Sugawara, Ronnie Edwards, Charlie Taylor and Nathan Wood have all been described as excellent professionals in our private conversations.

Good relationships are clear to see all over the training pitch - whether you're in the golf gang or those who prefer to stay in on the PlayStation.

They train with a smile and some of the banter during exercises is ruthless. Manager Russell Martin's one-liners from the side are often gold.

"Ronnie Edwards, the second-best defender to play for Posh," he shouted this week. "Remember the day that Kyle Walker-Peters was tackled."

Martin made analysts clip the moment he was nutmegged so he could admonish who did it. Joe Aribo was reprieved when it turned out to be the kitman.

However, players must not mistake a jovial spirit for a lack of seriousness - every indiscretion is punished, either financially or by running.

Under Martin, Southampton's players have a clear understanding of exactly what is expected of them - and they trust he will be consistent.

There is reason to believe some of those players who struggled in the Premier League previously can show an improved effort.

Adam Armstrong is too good for the Championship and now needs to make the jump. Martin fills him with confidence that he can.

We have also been able to see first-hand the work done by the coaches on several tactical aspects. The level of detail that even throw-ins get attributed.

Following the 3-2 win over Bordeaux on Wednesday, Martin focused on the fluidity of player movements to maintain an organised structure.

Simply, if a teammate vacates his positional space and moves into someone else's - those around reshuffle where required to restore the original shape.

We saw immediate improvements against Montpellier by the weekend, winning the fixture 3-1 to make it three victories from three. 

Martin is not too bothered about starting formation but knows he has options to start in a three-at-the-back or a four after the end of last season.

There are questions about how Saints - who had more possession last season than any team in England - will fare against teams who dominate the ball.

Having conceded 63 goals in the Championship, there are probably going to be some days where we witness things we would rather not.

Saints also seemed to have a St Mary's boo-hoo but innovative club ownership has sought to remove that - did the West Brom match fully wash it away?

The club hope improvements to St Mary's, including an all-standing Northam, will organically improve the atmosphere and boost the team's chances.

Indisputably, even with the impending signing of Brereton Diaz - who scored six in 14 appearances for a terrible Sheffield United - Saints need additions.

They need to reinforce their midfield with a player capable of displacing the impressive Smallbone or Aribo - Matt O'Riley is one hopeful target.

Martin wants to sign a new winger to replace David Brooks, who returned to AFC Bournemouth. Jack Clarke and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi have been linked.

And - perhaps finally - Saints need to bring someone in who can compete with Alex McCarthy in goal, despite impressive performances upon his return.

There is still a month left of the summer transfer window and plenty of ins and outs still to be done, by Martin's own admission.

But with only 20 days until the Premier League starts for Martin's side, there is a laser-sharp focus on delivering on the club's strict expectations.

There is none of that ill feeling that plagued the 2022/23 preparations but a unified group built on steadfast loyalty and ruthless malleability.

"We can't be soft going into the Premier League," Martin told us, and that attitude infecting the squad gives them half a chance.