STAR man Kyle Walker-Peters acknowledged his Saints contract is nearing its end and labelled it "extremely special" to play for the St Mary's side.

The 27 year old insisted his focus is now solely on getting results and keeping Saints in the Premier League in his fifth full season at the club. 

Walker-Peters is on a deal that expires in June 2025 and manager Russell Martin has admitted the defender is not currently set to sign a new one.

He is likely to decide on his future later in the season, having remained with the club during its drop to the Championship and subsequent promotion last year.

Walker-Peters said: "Mentally, it's easy for me to deal with. I'm a footballer and I want to play. Whilst I'm here at Southampton, I'm enjoying playing. 

"I enjoy playing under Russell and with my teammates. I've only got a few months left on my contract but my focus is keeping Southampton in the Premier League.

"It's an extremely special part of my career. They took me from Tottenham and allowed me to become a Premier League regular. I'm forever grateful. 

"I hope the fans are also grateful. I've never kicked up a fuss, never refused to play and never thrown any tantrums. I've always tried to give my all for the club."

Despite spending a season in the Championship, Walker-Peters made his 125th Premier League appearance during Sunday's 3-2 defeat to Liverpool.

"It was always a goal to become a Premier League footballer. I imagined it in my head as a kid. To do it is a great achievement for myself," said Walker-Peters.

Manager Martin insisted the players feel differently about their circumstances this season when compared to the 2022/23 relegation season.

Saints currently sit 20th in the league with eight points less than they had at this stage during that campaign, in which they ultimately finished bottom.

But Walker-Peters, who has been at Saints consistently since he joined on loan in January 2020, agrees with the assessment of the boss.

"I would say it's tough now and I'd say previously being in the Premier League before we were relegated was tough as well," he explained. 

"However, this time I feel like we've got a bit more substance as a club. We're all in on the same idea. We've got a manager who has been with us for a while now.

"We're really used to his philosophy, so it's a bit of a different feeling. In that season we changed managers three times, which is always hard.

"I think the main thing to keep confidence is when we look at the games after we have lost, we do look at the positives. 

Kyle Walker-Peters has started 10 of the 12 league matches this seasonKyle Walker-Peters has started 10 of the 12 league matches this season (Image: Stuart Martin)

"A lot of the negatives are little sloppy bits and mistakes that we can rectify. Overall, we have a positive feeling and moving in the right direction."

Martin also suggested Saints, who must now become the first team to lose 10 of their first 12 and beat relegation, are getting closer to the solution. 

Walker-Peters agreed with his assessment, adding: "I think everyone in the team agrees. Everyone in the team wants to play in this way.

"We trust the manager and we're fully behind the manager in how he wants to do things. Like you said, we've done well against the top teams.

"I think the problem with us as a group is that when we're playing the teams in and around us, we don't seem to show that same fearlessness."

Saints have upped their levels in matches against the top six, leading both Arsenal and Liverpool and losing just 1-0 at Man City's Etihad Stadium.

Except for a narrow win over Everton, it is in the matches against their relegation rivals- Ipswich, Leicester City and Wolves - that they have faltered.

Walker-Peters pondered it, suggesting: "If we're honest, going into games like Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool, we're not really expected to win.

"I think that allows people to remove the shackles a bit, whereas when you go to Wolves, it's pressure and it's a team that we need to beat.

"We've got a young squad and it's hard with younger players, but ultimately, that's what we have. We have to keep improving and giving everyone confidence."

Walker-Peters and his teammates visit Brighton & Hove Albion, who sit fifth in the Premier League and could go second with a win over Saints, on Friday.

He insists he is not surprised that the Seagulls have continued their Premier League story, which saw them compete in Europe for the first time last season.  

"They have been impressive for some years now," he said. "I saw someone say they keep doubting they're going to be able to keep going and they do.

"Whatever they're doing is excellent and credit to them. I have been involved in lots of games with them and I enjoy playing there. I think it'll be a good match."