Southampton skipper Jose Fonte admits he was concerned for the club during last summer's mass exodus.

Victory at Newcastle United has Saints sitting third on the table.

"I cannot be a hypocrite and lie - yes, I was worried, everyone was worried," he said.

"It did not look good for us, but then when we appointed the manager it became easier.

"I thought, 'Well, we have lost players but we have got a very good manager'. Then we started signing players and my confidence grew, slowly at first then more came in."