For the second successive season, Southampton were somewhat fortunate to avoid relegation from the Premier League. 

However, this year, the mood is far different. Ralph Hasenhuttl has inspired the supporters to believe in the team once again, and the prospect of a first full campaign under the Austrian is one that many rightly relish. 

The manager will take charge of his maiden pre-season in charge of the Saints this summer, and it is set to be an intriguing one. 

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Southampton will have players returning from loan spells across Europe whose futures are still in question, while those who failed to impress in the 2018/19 campaign will hope to have a clean slate to prove their worth to Hasenhuttl. 

For many, though, whose respective upturns in form last season were synonymous with the arrival of the manager, it will be a case of picking up where they left off. 

Without further ado, join us as we identify six Southampton players who simply must stake their claims in pre-season this year.