RALPH Hasenhuttl says he is enjoying managing Saints as much as his Champions League days with RB Leipzig.

After a year in charge at St Mary’s the Austrian is looking forward to helping his side build on their back-to-back wins.

He said: “It’s a fantastic job and I enjoy every day working here.

"I managed in the Champions League but it’s not less fun to work here. “We may have won more games there [RB Leipzig] but I enjoy every day here very, very much and am thankful I’m managing here in the Premier League.”

Saints have taken 45 points from his 38 games in charge, which in some seasons would be good enough for a top-ten spot.

“It hasn’t been tougher than I expected,” he continued.

“I knew the Premier League is a big challenge, especially for a club like ours.

“I knew we have our limits and we try to push them as high as possible.

“We weren’t competitive in every period last season and it’s been the same this season. There have been periods where we struggled.

“It’s not easy, the Premier League is getting better and better and we have to do it our own way.

“Everyone knows this philosophy is not an easy one but we must work hard and push our limits and develop our young players and stay in the league. This is the first goal we have.”

Looking ahead to the trip to Newcastle, he continued: “I expect a good organised opponent.

“They don’t have a lot of possession but they defend very well and are very strong on the counter attack. They’re not easy to play against.

“In the last game we had a lot of ball wins, our highest of the entire season, but we must have different tactical options and find a good game plan to [enable us] take something from there.”