Hughes says keeper is key to survival

MARK HUGHES is backing Alex McCarthy to be Southampton’s relegation great escape hero.

McCarthy has been one of Saints’ key men since dislodging Fraser Forster as No.1 in December.

The ex-Reading stopper was once tipped for the top and Hughes says an England World Cup call is not out of the question. The Saints boss said: “His general work has been good. Almost without fail, all the goals the team have conceded there wasn’t a great deal he could do about those situations.

“There were situations in our last game against Bournemouth where he had a number of saves that were key for us.

“And right at the death there was an outstanding save which protected the lead and protected the result. You saw the reaction from the boys when he made that save. They understood the significance of that save and how key it was at that time in the game, so he had a good afternoon’s work.

“That’s what you need from your keeper and top keepers do that. Alex is one of those that has that ability and physicality that allows him to be able to do that.

“If he does the same all through the games that we play and we get a similar result as a consequence, then I’d advocate he’s involved with England.” Southampton travel to Everton today where a point would take them out of the bottom three if Bournemouth beat relegation rivals Swansea.

The 2-1 victory over the Cherries last weekend – only the second in 22 league games – sparked scenes of jubilation at St Mary’s.

But Hughes has warned his players they have achieved nothing yet.

He said: “I don’t think we’ll fall into the trap of thinking that we got the job done last weekend because we haven’t. Nowhere near it. “It was a moment in time where we felt that emotion.

“I think everyone in the stadium felt that emotion and there was an outpouring but I felt it wasn’t a bad thing.

“We have to do it again and we don’t want to disappoint our fans by losing at Everton.”