HUGHES CONFIDENT OF SAVING SAINTS

NEW Southampton manager Mark Hughes is confident he can make an immediate impact and steer the club away from the threat of relegation.

The Welshman, who made 60 appearances f or t he Saints, has signed a contract until the end of the season t o become t he sacked Mauricio Pellegrino’s replacement.

His one target is to secure the 17th-placed club’s topflight status. It’s understood he is on a bonus of about £1m to keep the club up.

“First and f oremost I think it’s about coming in and maybe being that different voice, that different message from myself and the staff, that will enable the players to recognise and focus on what needs to be done in this key period of the season,” said the former Wales, Stoke, Manchester City, QPR, Fulham and Blackburn boss.

“The objective clearly is to remain in the league and make sure we’re a Premier League club next year.

“That’s where this club needs to be, that’s where it should be, and that’s our intention to make sure it remains there.

“I bring experience of the Premier League. I understand what it takes in this league to win games.

“It’s a challeng e I’ m excited by. It’s a great opportunity to come back to a club I know well, and a club I’ve got real affinity with, and I couldn’t turn that down.”

Hughes’ first game i s against Wigan in the FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday.