GRAEME Murty believes Saints are a “strong” team that “are going places” under Alan Pardew.

The 35-year-old injury-plagued defender looks like he could be forced to watch the rest of the season from the sidelines, having undergone an operation on his ankle.

But the right back, who has been able to make just nine appearances for the club since signing in the summer, is heartened by how the side have been playing in his absence.

Speaking about Pardew’s effect on the team, Murty said: “We look strong, we look as if we’re going places.

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“We carry as much, if not more, of a goal threat than anyone else in the league.

“We’ve got goals coming from all over the place and I really think that without the ten points we would be right in the mix.”

But Murty doesn’t believe the ten-point deficit Saints started the season with, due to entering administration last year, will necessarily prevent the club earning a playoff spot this campaign.

Saints go into tonight’s game at St Mary’s against sixth-placed Huddersfield trailing their opponents – who are clutching on to that coveted last berth – by 17 points.

But with two games in hand, a victory over the Terriers, coupled with a strong few weeks, could start to put some pressure on the sides already in the top six.

It will undoubtedly take an exceptional run of form, but Murty still believes and he has asked the supporters to do so as well.

“I still think we might have an outside chance of getting there,” he said.

“The fans are going to be key for us.

“I think if they stay behind us and push us on we can still do good things.”

Keep up to date with Saints - and the latest news on tonight's vital League 1 match against Huddersfield - in today's Daily Echo.